1, 4-disubstituted 3-cyano-pyridone derivatives and their use as positive allosteric modulators of MGLUR2-receptors

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to novel compounds, in particular novel pyridinone derivatives according to Formula (I) 
                         
wherein all radicals are defined in the application and claims. The compounds according to the invention are positive allosteric modulators of metabotropic receptors-subtype 2 (“mGluR2”) which are useful for the treatment or prevention of neurological and psychiatric disorders associated with glutamate dysfunction and diseases in which the mGluR2 subtype of metabotropic receptors is involved. In particular, such diseases are central nervous system disorders selected from the group of anxiety, schizophrenia, migraine, depression, and epilepsy. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions and processes to prepare such compounds and compositions, as well as to the use of such compounds for the prevention and treatment of such diseases in which mGluR2 is involved.

IN THE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to (EP) Application No. 06111215.7, filed Mar. 15, 2006, and to (EP) Application No. 07103654.5, filed Mar. 7, 2007, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to novel compounds, in particular novel 1,4-disubstituted 3-cyano-pyridone-derivatives that are positive allosteric modulators of metabotropic receptors-subtype 2 (“mGluR2”) which are useful for the treatment or prevention of neurological and psychiatric disorders associated with glutamate dysfunction and diseases in which the mGluR2 subtype of metabotropic receptors is involved. The invention is also directed to the pharmaceutical compositions, the processes to prepare such compounds and compositions and the use of such compounds for the prevention and treatment of such diseases in which mGluR2 is involved.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Glutamate is the major amino-acid transmitter in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). Glutamate plays a major role in numerous physiological functions, such as learning and memory but also sensory perception, development of synaptic plasticity, motor control, respiration, and regulation of cardiovascular function. Furthermore, glutamate is at the centre of several different neurological and psychiatric diseases, where there is an imbalance in glutamatergic neurotransmission.

Glutamate mediates synaptic neurotransmission through the activation of ionotropic glutamate receptors channels (iGluRs), the NMDA, AMPA and kainate receptors which are responsible for fast excitatory transmission (Nakanishi et al., (1998) Brain Res Brain Res Rev., 26:230-235).

In addition, glutamate activates metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) which have a more modulatory role that contributes to the fine-tuning of synaptic efficacy.

The mGluRs are seven-transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) belonging to family 3 of GPCRs along with the calcium-sensing, GABAb, and pheromone receptors.

Glutamate activates the mGluRs through binding to the large extracellular amino-terminal domain of the receptor, herein called the orthosteric binding site. This binding induces a conformational change in the receptor which results in the activation of the G-protein and intracellular signalling pathways.

The mGluR family is composed of eight members. They are classified into three groups (group I comprising mGluR1 and mGluR5; group II comprising mGluR2 and mGluR3; group III comprising mGluR4, mGluR6, mGluR7, and mGluR8) according to sequence homology, pharmacological profile, and nature of intracellular signalling cascades activated (Schoepp et al. (1999) Neuropharmacology, 38:1431-76).

Among mGluR members, the mGluR2 subtype is negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase via activation of Gαi-protein, and its activation leads to inhibition of glutamate release in the synapse (Cartmell & Schoepp (2000) J Neurochem 75:889-907). In the CNS, mGluR2 receptors are abundant mainly throughout cortex, thalamic regions, accessory olfactory bulb, hippocampus, amygdala, caudate-putamen and nucleus accumbens (Ohishi et al. (1998) Neurosci Res 30:65-82).

Activating mGluR2 was shown in clinical trials to be efficacious to treat anxiety disorders (Levine et al. (2002) Neuropharmacology 43: 294; Holden (2003) Science 300:1866-68; Grillon et al. (2003) Psychopharmacology 168:446-54; Kellner et al. (2005) Psychopharmacology 179: 310-15). In addition, activating mGluR2 in various animal models was shown to be efficacious, thus representing a potential novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of schizophrenia (reviewed in Schoepp & Marek (2002) Curr Drug Targets. 1:215-25), epilepsy (reviewed in Moldrich et al. (2003) Eur J Pharmacol. 476:3-16), migraine (Johnson et al. (2002) Neuropharmacology 43:291), addiction/drug dependence (Helton et al. (1997) J Pharmacol Exp Ther 284: 651-660), Parkinson's disease (Bradley et al (2000) J. Neurosci. 20(9):3085-94), pain (Simmons et al. (2002) Pharmacol Biochem Behav 73:419-27), sleep disorders (Feinberg et al. (2002) Pharmacol Biochem Behav 73:467-74) and Huntington's disease (Schiefer et al. (2004) Brain Res 1019:246-54).

To date, most of the available pharmacological tools targeting mGluRs are orthosteric ligands which activate several members of the family as they are structural analogs of glutamate (Schoepp et al. (1999) Neuropharmacology, 38:1431-76).

A new avenue for developing selective compounds acting at mGluRs is to identify molecules that act through allosteric mechanisms, modulating the receptor by binding to a site different from the highly conserved orthosteric binding site.

Positive allosteric modulators of mGluRs have emerged recently as novel pharmacological entities offering this attractive alternative. This type of molecule has been discovered for several mGluRs (reviewed in Mutel (2002) Expert Opin. Ther. Patents 12:1-8). In particular molecules have been described as mGluR2 positive allosteric modulators (Johnson M P et al. (2003) J Med Chem. 46:3189-92; Pinkerton et al. (2004) J Med Chem. 47:4595-9).

WO2004/092135 (NPS & Astra Zeneca), WO2004/018386, WO2006/014918 and WO2006/015158 (Merck) and WO2001/56990 (Eli Lilly) describe respectively phenyl sulfonamide, acetophenone, indanone and pyridylmethyl sulfonamide derivatives as mGluR2 positive allosteric modulators. However, none of the specifically disclosed compounds are structurally related to the compounds of the invention.

It was demonstrated that such molecules do not activate the receptor by themselves (Johnson M P et al. (2003) J Med Chem. 46:3189-92; Schaffhauser et al. (2003) Mol Pharmacol. 64:798-810). Rather, they enable the receptor to produce a maximal response to a concentration of glutamate which by itself induces a minimal response. Mutational analysis have demonstrated unequivocally that the binding of mGluR2 positive allosteric modulators does not occur at the orthosteric site, but instead at an allosteric site situated within the seven transmembrane region of the receptor (Schaffhauser et al. (2003) Mol Pharmacol. 64:798-810).

Animal data are suggesting that positive allosteric modulators of mGluR2 have the same effects in anxiety and psychosis models as those obtained with orthosteric agonists. Allosteric modulators of mGluR2 were shown to be active in fear-potentiated startle (Johnson et al. (2003) J Med Chem. 46:3189-92; Johnson et al. (2005) Psychopharmacology 179:271-83), and in stress-induced hyperthermia (Johnson et al. (2005) Psychopharmacology 179:271-83) models of anxiety. Furthermore, such compounds were shown to be active in reversal of ketamine- (Govek et al. (2005) Bioorg Med Chem Lett 15(18):4068-72) or amphetamine- (Galici et al. (2005) J Pharm Exp Ther 315(3), 1181-1187) induced hyperlocomotion, and in reversal of amphetamine-induced disruption of prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle effect (Galici et al. (2005) J Pharm Exp Ther 315(3), 1181-1187) models of schizophrenia.

Positive allosteric modulators enable potentiation of the glutamate response, but they have also been shown to potentiate the response to orthosteric mGluR2 agonists such as LY379268 (Johnson et al. (2004) Biochem Soc Trans 32:881-87) or DCG-IV (Poisik et al. (2005) Neuropharmacology 49:57-69). These data provide evidence for yet another novel therapeutic approach to treat above mentioned neurological diseases involving mGluR2, which would use a combination of a positive allosteric modulator of mGluR2 together with an orthosteric agonist of mGluR2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to compounds having metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 modulator activity. In its most general compound aspect, the present invention provides a compound according to general Formula (I),

a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt thereof, a stereochemically isomeric form thereof, an N-oxide form thereof or a quaternary ammonium salt thereof, wherein

-   V¹ is selected from the group of a covalent bond and a bivalent     saturated or unsaturated, straight or branched hydrocarbon radical     having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; -   M¹ is selected from the group of hydrogen; cycloC₃₋₇alkyl; aryl;     alkylcarbonyl; alkyloxy; aryloxy; arylalkyloxy; arylcarbonyl;     hexahydrothiopyranyl; and Het¹; -   L is selected from the group of a covalent bond; —O—; —OCH₂—;     —OCH₂CH₂—; —OCH₂CH₂O—; —OCH₂CH₂OCH₂—; —S—; —NR⁷—; —NR⁷CH₂—;     —NR⁷cycloC₃₋₇; —NR⁷CH₂CH₂—; —OCH₂CH₂N(R⁷)CH₂—; —CH₂—; —CH₂CH₂—;     —CH₂CH₂CH₂; —C≡C—; —C═O—; and —C(R⁸)═C(R⁹)—; wherein each of R⁷,     independently of each other, is selected from the group of hydrogen     and C₁₋₃alkyl; and wherein R⁸ and R⁹, independently of each other,     are selected from the group of hydrogen, halo and C₁₋₃alkyl; -   R² and R³ are each independently of each other hydrogen, halo or     alkyl; -   A is Het² or phenyl, wherein each radical is optionally substituted     with n radicals R⁴, wherein n is an integer equal to zero, 1, 2 or     3; -   R⁴ is selected from the group of halo; cyano; hydroxy; oxo; formyl;     ethanoyl; carboxyl; nitro; thio; alkyl; alkyloxy; alkyloxyalkyl;     alkyloxycarbonyl; alkyloxycarbonylalkyl; alkylcarbonyl;     alkylcarbonyloxy; alkylcarbonylalkyloxy; polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyl;     polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyloxy; polyhaloC₁₋₃alkylthio; alkylthio;     alkylsulfonyl; Het³; Het³-alkyl; Het³-oxy; Het³-oxyalkyl;     Het³-alkyloxy; Het³-oxyalkyloxy; Het³-carbonyl; Het³-carbonylalkyl;     Het³-thio; Het³-thioalkyl; Het³-sulfonyl; aryl; arylalkyl; aryloxy;     aryloxyalkyl; arylalkyloxy; arylalkenyl; arylcarbonylalkyl;     arylthioalkyl; arylsulfonyl; —NR^(a)R^(b); alkyl-NR^(a)R^(b);     O-alkyl-NR^(a)R^(b); —C(═O)—NR^(a)R^(b); —C(═O)-alkyl-NR^(a)R^(b);     and O-alkyl-C(═O)—NR^(a)R^(b); wherein R^(a) and R^(b) are selected     from the group of hydrogen, alkyl, alkylcarbonyl, arylalkyl,     alkyloxyalkyl, Het³, Het³alkyl, alkylsulfonyl, alkyl-NR^(c)R^(d) and     C(═O)alkyl-NR^(c)R^(d), wherein R^(c) and R^(d) are selected from     the group of hydrogen, alkyl and alkylcarbonyl;     -   or two radicals R⁴ may be combined to form a bivalent radical         —X¹—C₁₋₆—X²— wherein C₁₋₆ is a saturated or unsaturated,         straight or branched hydrocarbon radical having 1 to 6 carbon         atoms and X¹ and X² are each independently C, O or NH; wherein         the bivalent radical is optionally substituted with one or more         radicals selected from the group of halo, polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyl,         cyano, hydroxy, amino, oxo, carboxyl, nitro, thio, formyl and         ethanoyl; -   Het¹ is selected from the group of tetrahydropyranyl and pyridinyl;     wherein each radical is optionally substituted with 1, 2 or 3     substituents, each independently from each other, selected from the     group of halo, C₁₋₃alkyl, polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyl, polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyloxy,     cyano, hydroxy, amino, oxo, carboxyl, nitro, thio, formyl, ethanoyl,     and C₁₋₃alkyloxy; -   Het² is selected from the group of piperazinyl; piperidinyl;     thienyl; furanyl; 1H-indazolyl; 1H-benzimidazolyl;     1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolinyl; 2,5-diaza-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl;     pyrrolidinyl; azetidinyl; 2,7-diaza-spiro[3.5]-nonyl; pyridinyl;     pyrazolyl; indolinyl; 1H-indolyl; 1H-indazolyl; benzomorpholinyl;     thiazolyl; 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolinyl; 3,9-diazaspiro[5.5]undecyl;     1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,10b-octahydro-benzo[f]quinolinyl;     1,2,3,4,4a,10a-hexahydro-benzo[5,6][1,4]dioxino[2,3-c]pyridinyl;     2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-indeno[2,1-c]-pyridinyl;     2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-β-carbolinyl;     1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-benzo[4,5]-furo[2,3-c]pyridinyl;     1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenzo[4,5]thieno[2,3-c]pyridinyl; [1,4]diazepyl;     isoxazolyl; indanyl; and indolyl; -   Het³ is selected from the group of pyridinyl; pyrimidinyl;     pyridazilyl; pyrazinyl; piperidinyl; pyrrolyl; pyrrolidinyl;     piperazinyl; triazolyl; tetrazolyl; indolyl; thienyl; furanyl;     tetrahydropyranyl; tetrahydro-thiopyran-1,1-dioxide; thiazolyl;     thiadiazolyl; isothiazolyl; oxazolyl; morpholinyl; oxadiazolyl;     isoxazolyl; imidazolyl; pyrazolyl; benzoimidazolyl; benzoxazolyl;     benzothienyl; benzothiazolyl; benzofuranyl; benzomorpholinyl;     1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolinyl; thionaphtyl; indolyl; indolinyl;     quinolyl; isoquinolyl; quinoxalyl; phthalazyl; benzo[1,3]dioxyl; and     quinazolyl; wherein each radical is optionally substituted with 1, 2     or 3 substituents, each independently from each other, selected from     the group of halo, C₁₋₆alkyl, polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyl, cyano, hydroxy,     amino, oxo, carboxyl, nitro, thio, formyl, ethanoyl, phenyl,     pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, pyridinyl, morpholinyl, mono- and     di(alkyl)amino, and C₁₋₃alkyloxy; -   aryl is naphthyl, phenyl, or biphenyl; wherein each radical is     optionally substituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents, each     independently from each other selected from the group of halo,     C₁₋₃alkyl, polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyl, polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyloxy, cyano, hydroxy,     amino, oxo, carboxyl, nitro, thio, formyl, ethanoyl,     ethyloxycarbonyl, and C₁₋₃alkyloxy; -   alkyl is a saturated, straight or branched hydrocarbon radical     having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; or is a saturated, cyclic     hydrocarbon radical having from 3 to 7 carbon atoms; or is saturated     hydrocarbon radical from 4 to 12 carbon atoms, comprising at least     one saturated, straight or branched hydrocarbon radical having from     1 to 6 carbon atoms and at least one saturated, cyclic hydrocarbon     radical having from 3 to 7 carbon atoms; wherein each carbon atom     may optionally be substituted with one or more radicals selected     from the group of halo, polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyl, cyano, hydroxy, amino,     oxo, carboxyl, nitro, thio, formyl, ethanoyl, carbamoyl, phenyl, and     a bivalent radical —OCH₂CH₂O—; and -   alkenyl is alkyl, additionally containing one or more double bonds.

The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent and, as active ingredient, a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to the invention, in particular a compound according to Formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt thereof, a stereochemically isomeric form thereof, an N-oxide form thereof or a quaternary ammonium salt thereof.

The invention also relates to the use of a compound according to the invention as a medicament and for the preparation of a medicament for the prevention and/or treatment of a condition in a mammal, including a human, the treatment or prevention of which is affected or facilitated by the neuromodulatory effect of mGluR2 positive allosteric modulators.

In particular, the invention relates to the use of a compound according to the invention for the preparation of a medicament for treating, or preventing, ameliorating, controlling or reducing the risk of various neurological and psychiatric disorders associated with glutamate dysfunction in a mammal, including a human, the treatment or prevention of which is affected or facilitated by the neuromodulatory effect of mGluR2 positive allosteric modulators.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a compound according to general Formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt thereof, a stereochemically isomeric form thereof, an N-oxide form thereof or a quaternary ammonium salt thereof, wherein V¹ is selected from the group of a covalent bond, —CH₂—; —CH₂—CH₂—; —CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—; —CH₂—CH═CH—; —CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—; —CH₂—CH(CH₃)—CH₂—; —CH(CH₃)—CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—; —CH₂—CH(CH₃₋)CH₂—CH₂—; and —CH₂—CH₂—CH(CH₃)—CH₂—.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a compound according to general Formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt thereof, a stereochemically isomeric form thereof, an N-oxide form thereof or a quaternary ammonium salt thereof, wherein M¹ is selected from the group of hydrogen; cycloC₃₋₇alkyl; phenyl; biphenyl; phenyloxy; benzyloxy; furanyl; and pyridinyl; wherein M¹ is optionally substituted with one or more radicals selected from the group of halo; C₁₋₃alkyl; polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyl; polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyloxy; cyano; hydroxy; amino; oxo; carboxyl; nitro; thio; formyl; ethanoyl; and C₁₋₃alkyloxy.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a compound according to general Formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt thereof, a stereochemically isomeric form thereof, an N-oxide form thereof or a quaternary ammonium salt thereof, wherein M¹ is selected from the group of hydrogen; cycloC₃₋₇alkyl; phenyl; biphenyl; phenyloxy; benzyloxy; furanyl, and pyridinyl; wherein any one of said radicals is optionally substituted with one or more radicals selected from the group of halo; C₁₋₃alkyl; polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyl; polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyloxy; and C₁₋₃alkyloxy.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a compound according to general Formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt thereof, a stereochemically isomeric form thereof, an N-oxide form thereof or a quaternary ammonium salt thereof, wherein V¹-M¹ is selected from the group of —CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—CH₃; —CH₂—CH(CH₃)—CH₃; —CH(CH₃)—CH₂—CH₂—CH₃; —CH₂—CH(CH₃₋)CH₂—CH₃; —CH₂—CH₂—CH(CH₃)—CH₃; or V¹ is selected from the group of covalent bond; —CH₂—; —CH₂—CH₂—; —CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—; and —CH₂—CH═CH—; and M¹ is selected from the group of cyclopropyl; cyclopentyl; cyclohexyl; phenyl; biphenyl; phenyloxy; benzyloxy; furanyl; and pyridinyl; wherein each radical M¹ is optionally substituted with one or more radicals selected from the group of halo; C₁₋₃alkyl; polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyl; polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyloxy; and C₁₋₃alkyloxy. In a particular embodiment, V¹-M¹ is —CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—CH₃.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a compound according to general Formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt thereof, a stereochemically isomeric form thereof, an N-oxide form thereof or a quaternary ammonium salt thereof, wherein R² and R³ are each independently hydrogen, chloro, fluoro or methyl. In one particular embodiment, R² and R³ are each independently hydrogen or methyl. In another particular embodiment, R² and R³ are each hydrogen. In another particular embodiment, R² is methyl and R³ is hydrogen.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a compound according to general Formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt thereof, a stereochemically isomeric form thereof, an N-oxide form thereof or a quaternary ammonium salt thereof, wherein L is selected from the group of a covalent bond; —O—; —OCH₂—; —OCH₂CH₂—; —OCH₂CH₂O—; —OCH₂CH₂OCH₂—; —NR⁷—; —NR⁷CH₂—; —NR⁷cycloC₃₋₇; —OCH₂CH₂N(R⁷)CH₂—; —CH₂CH₂—; —C≡C—; —C═O—; and —CH═CH—; wherein each of R⁷, independently of each other, is selected from the group of hydrogen and C₁₋₃alkyl.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to a compound according to general Formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt thereof, a stereochemically isomeric form thereof, an N-oxide form thereof or a quaternary ammonium salt thereof, wherein A is selected from the group of phenyl, piperazinyl, and piperidinyl; wherein each of said radicals is optionally substituted with n radicals R⁴, wherein n is an integer equal to zero, 1, 2 or 3. In one particular embodiment, n is equal to zero or 1. In another particular embodiment, n is equal to 1.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a compound according to general Formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt thereof, a stereochemically isomeric form thereof, an N-oxide form thereof or a quaternary ammonium salt thereof, wherein R⁴ is selected from the group of halo; cyano; hydroxy; ethanoyl; alkyl; alkyloxy; alkyloxyalkyl; alkyloxycarbonyl; alkyloxycarbonylalkyl; alkylcarbonyl; alkylcarbonyloxy; alkylcarbonylalkyloxy; polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyl; polyhaloC₁₋₃-alkyloxy; polyhaloC₁₋₃alkylthio; alkylthio; alkylsulfonyl; Het³; Het³-alkyl; Het³-oxy; Het³-oxyalkyl; Het³-alkyloxy; Het³-oxyalkyloxy; Het³-carbonyl; Het³-thioalkyl; aryl; arylalkyl; aryloxy; aryloxyalkyl; arylalkyloxy; arylalkenyl; arylcarbonylalkyl; arylsulfonyl; —NR^(a)R^(b); alkyl-NR^(a)R^(b); O-alkyl-NR^(a)R^(b); —C(═O)—NR^(a)R^(b); —C(═O)-alkyl-NR^(a)R^(b); and O-alkyl-C(═O)—NR^(a)R^(b); wherein R^(a) and R^(b) are selected from the group of hydrogen, alkyl, alkylcarbonyl, arylalkyl, alkyloxyalkyl, Het³, Het³alkyl, alkylsulfonyl, alkyl-NR^(c)R^(d) and C(═O)alkyl-NR^(c)R^(d), wherein R^(c) and R^(d) are selected from the group of hydrogen, alkyl and alkylcarbonyl; or two radicals R⁴ may be combined to form a bivalent radical —X¹—C₁₋₆—X²— wherein C₁₋₆ is a saturated or unsaturated, straight or branched hydrocarbon radical having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and X¹ and X² are each independently C or O.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to a compound according to general Formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt thereof, a stereochemically isomeric form thereof, an N-oxide form thereof or a quaternary ammonium salt thereof, wherein two radicals R⁴ may be combined to form a bivalent radical selected from the group of —CH₂CH₂—O—; —O—CH₂—O—; and —O—CH₂CH₂—O—.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a compound according to general Formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt thereof, a stereochemically isomeric form thereof, an N-oxide form thereof or a quaternary ammonium salt thereof, wherein Het¹ is selected from the group of tetrahydropyranyl and pyridinyl; wherein each radical Het¹ is optionally substituted with 1, 2 or 3 polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyl substituents.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a compound according to general Formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt thereof, a stereochemically isomeric form thereof, an N-oxide form thereof or a quaternary ammonium salt thereof, wherein Het³ is selected from the group of pyridinyl; pyrimidinyl; pyridazilyl; pyrazinyl; piperidinyl; pyrrolidinyl; piperazinyl; triazolyl; tetrahydropyranyl; tetrahydro-thiopyran-1,1-dioxide; thiazolyl; oxazolyl; morpholinyl; oxadiazolyl; imidazolyl; benzoxazolyl; benzothienyl; benzofuranyl; 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolinyl; indolyl; indolinyl; phthalazyl; and benzo[1,3]dioxyl. In one embodiment, each radical is optionally substituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents, each independently from each other, selected from the group of halo, C₁₋₆alkyl, polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyl, cyano, hydroxy, oxo, ethanoyl, phenyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, pyridinyl, morpholinyl, mono- and di(alkyl)amino, and C₁₋₃alkyloxy.

In one further embodiment, the invention relates to a compound according to general Formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt thereof, a stereochemically isomeric form thereof, an N-oxide form thereof or a quaternary ammonium salt thereof, wherein

-   V¹ is selected from the group of a covalent bond, —CH₂—; —CH₂—CH₂—;     —CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—; —CH₂—CH═CH—; —CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—; —CH₂—CH(CH₃)—CH₂—;     —CH(CH₃)—CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—; —CH₂—CH(CH₃)CH₂—CH₂—; and     —CH₂—CH₂—CH(CH₃)—CH₂—; -   M¹ is selected from the group of hydrogen; cycloC₃₋₇alkyl; phenyl;     biphenyl; phenyloxy; benzyloxy; furanyl; and pyridinyl; wherein M¹     is optionally substituted with one or more radicals selected from     the group of halo; C₁₋₃alkyl; polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyl;     polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyloxy; and C₁₋₃alkyloxy; -   L is selected from the group of covalent bond; —O—; —OCH₂—;     —OCH₂CH₂—; —OCH₂CH₂O—; —OCH₂CH₂OCH₂—; —NR⁷—; —NR⁷CH₂—;     —NR⁷cycloC₃₋₇; —OCH₂CH₂N(R⁷)CH₂—; —CH₂CH₂—; —C≡C—; —C═O—; and     —CH═CH—; wherein each of R⁷, independently of each other, is     selected from the group of hydrogen and C₁₋₃alkyl; -   R² and R³ are each independently of each other hydrogen, halo or     alkyl; -   A is selected from the group of phenyl, piperazinyl, and     piperidinyl, wherein each radical is optionally substituted with n     radicals R⁴, wherein n is an integer equal to zero or 1; -   R⁴ is selected from the group of halo; cyano; hydroxy; ethanoyl;     alkyl; alkyloxy; alkyloxyalkyl; alkyloxycarbonyl;     alkyloxycarbonylalkyl; alkylcarbonyl; alkylcarbonyloxy;     alkylcarbonylalkyloxy; polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyl; polyhaloC₁₋₃-alkyloxy;     polyhaloC₁₋₃alkylthio; alkylthio; alkylsulfonyl; Het³; Het³-alkyl;     Het³-oxy; Het³-oxyalkyl; Het³-alkyloxy; Het³-oxyalkyloxy;     Het³-carbonyl; Het³-thioalkyl; aryl; arylalkyl; aryloxy;     aryloxyalkyl; arylalkyloxy; arylalkenyl; arylcarbonylalkyl;     arylsulfonyl; —NR^(a)R^(b); alkyl-NR^(a)R^(b); O-alkyl-NR^(a)R^(b)     wherein R^(a) and R^(b) are selected from the group of hydrogen,     alkyl, alkylcarbonyl, arylalkyl, alkyloxyalkyl, Het³, Het³alkyl,     alkylsulfonyl, alkyl-NR^(c)R^(d), and C(═O)alkyl-NR^(c)R^(d),     wherein R^(c) and R^(d) are selected from the group of hydrogen,     alkyl and alkylcarbonyl; or two radicals R⁴ may be combined to form     a bivalent radical selected from the group of —CH₂CH₂—O—; —O—CH₂—O—;     and —O—CH₂CH₂—O—; -   Het¹ is selected from the group of tetrahydropyranyl and pyridinyl;     wherein each radical Het¹ is optionally substituted with 1, 2 or 3     polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyl substituents; -   Het² is selected from the group of piperazinyl; piperidinyl;     thienyl; furanyl; 1H-indazolyl; 1H-benzimidazolyl;     1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolinyl; 2,5-diaza-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl;     pyrrolidinyl; azetidinyl; 2,7-diaza-spiro[3.5]-nonyl; pyridinyl;     pyrazolyl; indolinyl; 1H-indolyl; 1H-indazolyl; benzomorpholinyl;     thiazolyl; 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolinyl; 3,9-diazaspiro[5.5]undecyl;     1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,10b-octahydro-benzo[f]quinolinyl;     1,2,3,4,4a,10a-hexahydro-benzo[5,6][1,4]dioxino[2,3-c]pyridinyl;     2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-indeno[2,1-c]-pyridinyl;     2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-β-carbolinyl;     1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-benzo[4,5]-furo[2,3-c]pyridinyl;     1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenzo[4,5]thieno[2,3-c]pyridinyl; [1,4]diazepyl;     isoxazolyl; indanyl; and indolyl; -   Het³ is selected from the group of pyridinyl; pyrimidinyl;     pyridazilyl; pyrazinyl; piperidinyl; pyrrolidinyl; piperazinyl;     triazolyl; tetrahydropyranyl; tetrahydro-thiopyran-1,1-dioxide;     thiazolyl; oxazolyl; morpholinyl; oxadiazolyl; imidazolyl;     benzoxazolyl; benzothienyl; benzofuranyl;     1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolinyl; indolyl; indolinyl; phthalazyl;     and benzo[1,3]dioxyl; wherein each radical is optionally substituted     with 1, 2 or 3 substituents, each independently from each other,     selected from the group of halo, C₁₋₆alkyl, polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyl,     cyano, hydroxy, oxo, ethanoyl, phenyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl,     pyridinyl, morpholinyl, mono- and di(alkyl)amino, and C₁₋₃alkyloxy; -   aryl is phenyl or biphenyl; wherein each radical is optionally     substituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents, each independently from     each other selected from the group of halo, C₁₋₃alkyl,     polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyl, polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyloxy, cyano, nitro,     ethyloxycarbonyl, and C₁₋₃alkyloxy; and -   alkyl is a saturated, straight or branched hydrocarbon radical     having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; or is a saturated, cyclic     hydrocarbon radical having from 3 to 7 carbon atoms; or is saturated     hydrocarbon radical from 4 to 12 carbon atoms, comprising at least     one saturated, straight or branched hydrocarbon radical having from     1 to 6 carbon atoms and at least one saturated, cyclic hydrocarbon     radical having from 3 to 7 carbon atoms; wherein each carbon atom     may optionally be substituted with one or more radicals selected     from the group of cyano, hydroxy, carboxyl, carbamoyl, phenyl, and a     bivalent radical —OCH₂CH₂O—.

In further embodiment, the invention relates to a compound according to general Formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt thereof, a stereochemically isomeric form thereof, an N-oxide form thereof or a quaternary ammonium salt thereof, wherein the compound is selected from the group of:

-   4-(4-(N-acetylmethyl)phenyl)-3-cyano-1-(3-methylbutyl)pyridine-2(1H)-one     (compound 1-179); -   4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-cyano-1-(3-methylbutyl)pyridine-2(1H)-one     (compound 1-110); -   3-cyano-4-(3-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(3-methylbutyl)pyridine-2(1H)-one     (compound 1-114); -   3-cyano-4-(4-hydroxypropylphenyl)-1-(3-methylbutyl)pyridine-2(1H)-one     (compound 1-095); -   3-cyano-4-(4-methoxymethylphenyl)-1-(3-methylbutyl)pyridine-2(1H)-one     (compound 1-103); -   3-cyano-4-(2-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(3-methylbutyl)pyridine-2(1H)-one     (compound 1-113); -   3-cyano-4-(4-(N-morpholyl)phenyl)-1-(3-methylbutyl)pyridine-2(1H)-one     (compound 1-223); -   3-cyano-1-(3-methylbutyl)-4-(phenylethynyl)pyridine-2(1H)-one     (compound 1-267); -   3-cyano-1-butyl-4-[4-(2-methyl-pyridin-4-yloxy)-phenyl]-pyridine-2(1H)-one     (compound 1-064); and -   3-cyano-1-cyclopropylmethyl-4-(4-phenyl-piperidin-1-yl)-pyridine-2(1H)-one     (compound 4-047).

In the framework of this application, alkyl is a saturated, straight or branched hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; or is a saturated, cyclic hydrocarbon radical having from 3 to 7 carbon atoms; or is a saturated hydrocarbon radical from 4 to 12 carbon atoms, comprising at least one saturated, straight or branched hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and at least one saturated, cyclic hydrocarbon radical having from 3 to 7 carbon atoms; wherein each carbon atom may optionally be substituted with one or more radicals selected from the group of halo, polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyl, cyano, hydroxy, amino, oxo, carboxyl, nitro, thio, formyl, ethanoyl, carbamoyl, phenyl, and a bivalent radical —OCH₂CH₂O—. In one embodiment, alkyl is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl. In one embodiment, each carbon atom is optionally substituted with one or more radicals selected from the group of cyano, hydroxy, carboxyl, carbamoyl, phenyl, and the bivalent radical —OCH₂CH₂O—.

The notation C₁₋₆alkyl defines a saturated, straight or branched hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as C₆alkyl; C₅alkyl; C₄alkyl; C₃alkyl; C₂alkyl; and C₁alkyl. Examples of C₁₋₆alkyl are methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, butyl, isobutyl, pentyl, and heptyl.

The notation cycloC₃₋₇alkyl defines a saturated, cyclic hydrocarbon radical having from 3 to 7 carbon atoms, such as cycloC₇alkyl; cycloC₆alkyl; cycloC₆alkyl; cycloC₅alkyl; cycloC₄alkyl; cycloC₃alkyl; and cycloC₃alkyl. Examples of cycloC₃₋₇alkyl are cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cycloheptyl, and cyclohexyl.

The notation C₁₋₃alkyl defines a saturated, straight or branched hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl and iso-propyl.

In one preferred embodiment, alkyl is C₁₋₆alkyl; in another preferred embodiment alkyl is C₃₋₇cycloalkyl.

In the framework of this application, alkenyl is alkyl, additionally containing one or more double bonds.

In the framework of this application, aryl is naphthyl, phenyl or biphenyl; wherein each radical is optionally substituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents, each independently from each other selected from the group of halo, C₁₋₃alkyl, polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyl, polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyloxy, cyano, hydroxy, amino, oxo, carboxyl, nitro, thio, formyl, ethanoyl, ethyloxycarbonyl, and C₁₋₃alkyloxy. More preferred, aryl is phenyl or biphenyl. More preferred, aryl is optionally substituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents, each independently from each other, selected from the group of halo, C₁₋₃alkyl, polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyl, polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyloxy, cyano, nitro, ethyloxycarbonyl, and C₁₋₃alkyloxy. More preferred, aryl is phenyl or biphenyl, optionally substituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents, each independently from each other, selected from the group of halo, C₁₋₃alkyl, polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyl, polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyloxy, cyano, nitro, ethyloxycarbonyl, and C₁₋₃alkyloxy.

In the framework of this application, halo is a substituent selected from the group of fluoro, chloro, bromo and iodo. Preferably, halo is bromo, fluoro or chloro.

In the framework of this application, polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyl is a straight or branched saturated hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, wherein one or more carbon atoms is substituted with one or more halo-atoms. Preferably, polyhaloalkyl is trifluoromethyl.

In the framework of this application, with “compounds according to the invention” is meant a compound according to the general Formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt thereof, a stereochemically isomeric form thereof, an N-oxide form thereof or a quaternary ammonium salt thereof.

The pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts are defined to comprise the therapeutically active non-toxic acid addition salts forms that the compounds according to Formula (I) are able to form. Said salts can be obtained by treating the base form of the compounds according to Formula (I) with appropriate acids, for example inorganic acids, for example hydrohalic acid, in particular hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulphuric acid, nitric acid and phosphoric acid; organic acids, for example acetic acid, hydroxyacetic acid, propanoic acid, lactic acid, pyruvic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, cyclamic acid, salicylic acid, p-aminosalicylic acid and pamoic acid.

Conversely said acid addition salt forms can be converted into the free base form by treatment with an appropriate base.

The compounds according to Formula (I) containing acidic protons may also be converted into their therapeutically active non-toxic metal or amine addition salts forms (base addition salts) by treatment with appropriate organic and inorganic bases. Appropriate base salts forms comprise, for example, the ammonium salts, the alkaline and earth alkaline metal salts, in particular lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium salts, salts with organic bases, e.g. the benzathine, N-methyl-D-glucamine, hybramine salts, and salts with amino acids, for example arginine and lysine.

Conversely, said salts forms can be converted into the free forms by treatment with an appropriate acid.

Quaternary ammonium salts of compounds according to Formula (I) defines said compounds which are able to form by a reaction between a basic nitrogen of a compound according to Formula (I) and an appropriate quaternizing agent, such as, for example, an optionally substituted alkylhalide, arylhalide or arylalkylhalide, in particular methyliodide and benzyliodide. Other reactants with good leaving groups may also be used, such as, for example, alkyl trifluoromethanesulfonates, alkyl methanesulfonates and alkyl p-toluenesulfonates. A quaternary ammonium salt has a positively charged nitrogen. Pharmaceutically acceptable counterions include chloro, bromo, iodo, trifluoroacetate and acetate ions.

The term addition salt as used in the framework of this application also comprises the solvates that the compounds according to Formula (I) as well as the salts thereof, are able to form. Such solvates are, for example, hydrates and alcoholates.

The N-oxide forms of the compounds according to Formula (I) are meant to comprise those compounds of Formula (I) wherein one or several nitrogen atoms are oxidized to the so-called N-oxide, particularly those N-oxides wherein one or more tertiary nitrogens (e.g. of the piperazinyl or piperidinyl radical) are N-oxidized. Such N-oxides can easily be obtained by a skilled person without any inventive skills and they are obvious alternatives for the compounds according to Formula (I) since these compounds are metabolites, which are formed by oxidation in the human body upon uptake. As is generally known, oxidation is normally the first step involved in drug metabolism (Textbook of Organic Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, 1977, pages 70-75). As is also generally known, the metabolite form of a compound can also be administered to a human instead of the compound per se, with much the same effects.

The compounds of Formula (I) may be converted to the corresponding N-oxide forms following art-known procedures for converting a trivalent nitrogen into its N-oxide form. Said N-oxidation reaction may generally be carried out by reacting the starting material of Formula (I) with an appropriate organic or inorganic peroxide. Appropriate inorganic peroxides comprise, for example, hydrogen peroxide, alkali metal or earth alkaline metal peroxides, e.g. sodium peroxide, potassium peroxide; appropriate organic peroxides may comprise peroxy acids such as, for example, benzenecarboperoxoic acid or halo substituted benzenecarboperoxoic acid, e.g. 3-chlorobenzenecarboperoxoic acid, peroxoalkanoic acids, e.g. peroxoacetic acid, alkylhydroperoxides, e.g. tent-butyl hydroperoxide. Suitable solvents are, for example, water, lower alkanols, e.g. ethanol and the like, hydrocarbons, e.g. toluene, ketones, e.g. 2-butanone, halogenated hydrocarbons, e.g. dichloromethane, and mixtures of such solvents.

The term “stereochemically isomeric forms” as used hereinbefore defines all the possible isomeric forms that the compounds of Formula (I) may possess. Unless otherwise mentioned or indicated, the chemical designation of compounds denotes the mixture of all possible stereochemically isomeric forms, said mixtures containing all diastereomers and enantiomers of the basic molecular structure. More in particular, stereogenic centers may have the R- or S-configuration; substituents on bivalent cyclic (partially) saturated radicals may have either the cis- or trans-configuration. Compounds encompassing double bonds can have an E or Z-stereochemistry at said double bond. Stereochemically isomeric forms of the compounds of Formula (I) are obviously intended to be embraced within the scope of this invention.

Following CAS nomenclature conventions, when two stereogenic centers of known absolute configuration are present in a molecule, an R or S descriptor is assigned (based on Cahn-Ingold-Prelog sequence rule) to the lowest-numbered chiral center, the reference center. The configuration of the second stereogenic center is indicated using relative descriptors [R*,R*] or [R*,S*], where R* is always specified as the reference center and [R*,R*] indicates centers with the same chirality and [R*,S*] indicates centers of unlike chirality. For example, if the lowest-numbered chiral center in the molecule has an S configuration and the second center is R, the stereo descriptor would be specified as S-[R*,S*]. If “α” and “β” are used: the position of the highest priority substituent on the asymmetric carbon atom in the ring system having the lowest ring number, is arbitrarily always in the “a” position of the mean plane determined by the ring system. The position of the highest priority substituent on the other asymmetric carbon atom in the ring system (hydrogen atom in compounds according to Formula (I)) relative to the position of the highest priority substituent on the reference atom is denominated “α”, if it is on the same side of the mean plane determined by the ring system, or “β”, if it is on the other side of the mean plane determined by the ring system.

The invention also comprises derivative compounds (usually called “pro-drugs”) of the pharmacologically-active compounds according to the invention, which are degraded in vivo to yield the compounds according to the invention. Pro-drugs are usually (but not always) of lower potency at the target receptor than the compounds to which they are degraded. Pro-drugs are particularly useful when the desired compound has chemical or physical properties that make its administration difficult or inefficient. For example, the desired compound may be only poorly soluble, it may be poorly transported across the mucosal epithelium, or it may have an undesirably short plasma half-life. Further discussion on pro-drugs may be found in Stella, V. J. et al., “Prodrugs”, Drug Delivery Systems, 1985, pp. 112-176, and Drugs, 1985, 29, pp. 455-473.

Pro-drugs forms of the pharmacologically-active compounds according to the invention will generally be compounds according to Formula (I), the pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salts thereof, the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof and the N-oxide form thereof, having an acid group which is esterified or amidated. Included in such esterified acid groups are groups of the formula —COOR^(x), where R^(x) is a C₁₋₆alkyl, phenyl, benzyl or one of the following groups:

Amidated groups include groups of the formula —CONR^(y)R^(z), wherein R^(y) is H, C₁₋₆alkyl, phenyl or benzyl and R^(z) is —OH, H, C₁₋₆alkyl, phenyl or benzyl. Compounds according to the invention having an amino group may be derivatised with a ketone or an aldehyde such as, for example, formaldehyde to form a Mannich base. This base will hydrolyze with first order kinetics in aqueous solution.

In the framework of this application, with “compounds according to the invention” is meant a compound according to the general Formula (I), the pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salts thereof, the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, the N-oxide form thereof and a prodrug thereof.

In the framework of this application, an element, in particular when mentioned in relation to a compound according to Formula (I), comprises all isotopes and isotopic mixtures of this element, either naturally occurring or synthetically produced, either with natural abundance or in an isotopically enriched form. In particular, when hydrogen is mentioned, it is understood to refer to ¹H, ²H, ³H and mixtures thereof; when carbon is mentioned, it is understood to refer to ¹¹C, ¹²C, ¹³C, ¹⁴C and mixtures thereof; when nitrogen is mentioned, it is understood to refer to ¹³N, ¹⁴N, ¹⁵N and mixtures thereof; when oxygen is mentioned, it is understood to refer to ¹⁴O, ¹⁵O, ¹⁶O, ¹⁷O, ¹⁸O and mixtures thereof; and when fluor is mentioned, it is understood to refer to ¹⁸F, ¹⁹F and mixtures thereof.

The compounds according to the invention therefore also comprise compounds with one or more isotopes of one or more element, and mixtures thereof, including radioactive compounds, also called radiolabelled compounds, wherein one or more non-radioactive atoms has been replaced by one of its radioactive isotopes. By the term “radiolabelled compound” is meant any compound according to Formula (I), an N-oxide form, a pharmaceutically acceptable addition salt or a stereochemically isomeric form thereof, which contains at least one radioactive atom. For example, compounds can be labelled with positron or with gamma emitting radioactive isotopes. For radioligand-binding techniques (membrane receptor assay), the ³H-atom or the ¹²⁵I-atom is the atom of choice to be replaced. For imaging, the most commonly used positron emitting (PET) radioactive isotopes are ¹¹C, ¹⁸F, ¹⁵O and ¹³N, all of which are accelerator produced and have half-lives of 20, 100, 2 and 10 minutes respectively. Since the half-lives of these radioactive isotopes are so short, it is only feasible to use them at institutions which have an accelerator on site for their production, thus limiting their use. The most widely used of these are ¹⁸F, ^(99m)Tc, ²⁰¹Tl and ¹²³I. The handling of these radioactive isotopes, their production, isolation and incorporation in a molecule are known to the skilled person.

In particular, the radioactive atom is selected from the group of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen and halogen. Preferably, the radioactive atom is selected from the group of hydrogen, carbon and halogen.

In particular, the radioactive isotope is selected from the group of ³H, ¹¹C, ¹⁸F, ¹²²I, ¹²³I, ¹²⁵I, ¹³¹I, ⁷⁵Br, ⁷⁶Br, ⁷⁷Br and ⁸²Br. Preferably, the radioactive isotope is selected from the group of ³H, ¹¹C and ¹⁸F.

A. Preparation of the Final Compounds

Experimental Procedure 1 (L is a Covalent Bond)

The final compounds according to Formula (I-a), wherein L is a covalent bond, can be prepared by reacting an intermediate compound of Formula (II) with a compound of Formula (III) according to reaction scheme (1), a reaction that is performed in a suitable reaction-inert solvent, such as, for example, 1,4-dioxane or mixtures of inert solvents such as, for example, 1,4-dioxane/DMF, in the presence of a suitable base, such as, for example, aqueous NaHCO₃ or Na₂CO₃, a Pd-complex catalyst such as, for example, Pd(PPh₃)₄ under thermal conditions such as, for example, heating the reaction mixture at 150° C. under microwave irradiation, for example for 10 min. In a reaction suitable for Pd mediated coupling with boronic acids or boronic esters, such as, for example, a halo, triflate or pyridinium moiety. Such intermediate compounds may be prepared according to reaction schemes (8), (9) and (10) (see below). R⁵ and R⁶ may be hydrogen or alkyl, or may be taken together to form for example the bivalent radical of formula —CH₂CH₂—, —CH₂CH₂CH₂—, or —C(CH₃)₂C(CH₃)₂—.

Experimental Procedure 2 (L is Oxygen or Sulfur)

The final compounds according to Formula (I-b), wherein L is oxygen or sulfur, can be prepared by reacting an intermediate compound of Formula (II) with a compound of Formula (IV) according to reaction scheme (2), a reaction that is performed in a suitable reaction-inert solvent, such as, for example, THF, in the presence of a suitable base, such as, for example, NaH, under thermal conditions such as, for example, heating the reaction mixture for example at 80° C. under microwave irradiation for 10 minutes. In reaction scheme (2), all variables are defined as in Formula (I), R¹ is V¹-M¹ and Y is a suitable leaving group, such as, for example, pyridinium.

Experimental Procedure 3 (L is Aminoalkyl)

The final compounds according to Formula (I-c), wherein L is —NR⁷—; —NR⁷CH₂—; or —NR⁷CH₂CH₂— wherein each of R⁷, independently of each other, is selected from the group of hydrogen and alkyl, can be prepared by reacting an intermediate compound of Formula (II) with a compound of Formula (V) according to reaction scheme (3), a reaction that is performed in a suitable reaction-inert solvent, such as, for example, 1,4-dioxane, in the presence of a suitable base, such as, for example, K₃PO₄, a Pd-complex catalyst such as, for example

under thermal conditions such as, for example, heating the reaction mixture for example at 80° C. for 12 hours. In reaction scheme (3), all variables are defined as in Formula (I), R¹ is V¹-M¹ and Y is a suitable group for Pd-mediated coupling with amines, such as, for example, halo.

Alternatively, compounds according to Formula (I-c) can be prepared by reacting an intermediate compound of Formula (II) with a compound of Formula (V) according to reaction scheme (3), a reaction that is performed in a suitable reaction-inert solvent, such as, for example, dimethoxyethane or acetonitrile, in the presence of a suitable base, such as, for example, Cs₂CO₃ or N,N-diisopropylethylamine, under thermal conditions such as, for example, heating the reaction mixture for example at 160° C. under microwave irradiation for 30 minutes.

Experimental Procedure 4 (L is Alkynyl)

The final compounds according to Formula (I-d), wherein L is —C≡C—, can be prepared by reacting an intermediate compound of Formula (II) with a compound of Formula (VI) according to reaction scheme (4), a reaction that is performed in a suitable reaction-inert solvent, such as, for example, THF, in the presence of a suitable base, such as, for example, NEt₃, a Pd-complex catalyst such as, for example, PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂ a phosphine such as, for example, PPh₃, a copper salt such as, for example, CuI and under thermal conditions such as, for example, heating the reaction mixture for example at 80° C. for 12 hours. In reaction scheme (4), all variables are defined as in Formula (I), R¹ is V¹-M¹ and Y is a group suitable for Pd-mediated coupling with alkynes, such as, for example, halo.

Experimental Procedure 5 (L is Alkenyl)

The final compounds according to Formula (I-e), wherein L is —C(R⁸)═C(R⁹)— can be prepared by reaction of an intermediate of Formula (II) with an intermediate of Formula (VII) in an inert solvent such as, for example, 1,4-dioxane, in the presence of a suitable base, such as, for example, NaHCO₃ or Na₂CO₃, a Pd-complex catalyst such as, for example, Pd(PPh₃)₄ under thermal conditions such as, for example, heating the reaction mixture at 85° C., for example for 8 hours. In reaction scheme (5), all variables are defined as in Formula (I) and Y is a group suitable for Pd-mediated coupling with boronic acids or boronic esters, such as, for example, a halo, trifluoromethanesulphonyl or pyridinium moiety. Such intermediate compounds may be prepared according to reaction schemes (8), (9) and (10) (see below). R⁵ and R⁶ may be hydrogen or alkyl, or may be taken together to form for example the bivalent radical of formula —CH₂CH₂—, —CH₂CH₂CH₂—, or —C(CH₃)₂C(CH₃)₂—. In reaction scheme (5), all variables are defined as in Formula (I) and R¹ is V¹-M¹.

Experimental Procedure 6

The final compounds according to Formula (I-e2), wherein L is —CH═CH— and Formula (I-f2), wherein L is —CH₂CH₂—, can be prepared by art-known procedures such as, for example, hydrogenation of a final compound of Formula (I-d), prepared according to reaction scheme (6). Additionally, final compounds of Formula (I-f1) and Formula (I-f2) can be prepared from final compounds of Formula (I-e1) and Formula (I-e2) by art-known hydrogenation methods according to reaction scheme (6). Additionally, final compounds of Formula (I-e2) can be prepared by partial reduction of the triple bond of final compounds of Formula (I-d) by art known procedures. In reaction scheme (6), all variables are defined as in Formula (I) and R¹ is V¹-M¹.

Experimental Procedure 7

The compounds according to Formula (I) can be prepared by art known procedures by reacting a compound of Formula (VIII) with an alkylating agent of Formula (IX), such as, for example, isopentylbromide, using a suitable base such as, for example, K₂CO₃, and an iodine salt such as, for example, KI, in an inert solvent such as, for example, acetonitrile at a moderately high temperature such as, for example, 120° C. In reaction scheme (7), all variables are defined as in Formula (I), R¹ is V¹-M¹ and Z is a suitable leaving group such as, for example, halo.

Additionally, final compounds according to Formula (I) can be prepared by a skilled person using art known procedures by further modifications of final compounds of Formula (I-a), (I-b), (I-c), (I-d), (I-e) and (I-f) such as, for example:

-   -   Alkylation of final compounds of Formula (I-a), (I-b), (I-c),         (I-d), (I-e) and (I-f) that contain in their structure one or         more hydroxy- or amino-substituents with a suitable alkylating         agent under thermal conditions using a suitable base.     -   Saponification of final compounds of Formula (I-a), (I-b),         (I-c), (I-d), (I-e) and (I-f) that contain in their structure         one or more alkyloxycarbonyl function by using a suitable         saponificating agent such as, for example, NaOH or LiOH.     -   Reaction of final compounds of Formula (I-a), (I-b), (I-c),         (I-d), (I-e) and (I-f) that contain in their structure one or         more carboxylic acid function with ammonia or a primary or         secondary amine by using a suitable coupling agent such as, for         example O-(7-azabenzotriazol-1-yl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium         hexafluorophosphate, to yield the corresponding final compounds         of Formula (I), bearing a primary, secondary or tertiary         carboxamide function in their structures.     -   Reaction of final compounds of Formula (I-a), (I-b), (I-c),         (I-d), (I-e) and (I-f) that contain in their structure a primary         or secondary amine function with a carboxylic acid by using a         suitable coupling agent such as, for example,         O-(7-azabenzotriazol-1-yl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium         hexafluorophosphate to yield the corresponding final compounds         of Formula (I), bearing a primary, secondary or tertiary         carboxamide function in their structures.     -   Reductive amination of final compounds of Formula (I-a), (I-b),         (I-c), (I-d), (I-e) and (I-f) that contain in their structure         one or more amino-substituents with a suitable aldehyde under         thermal conditions using a suitable reducing agent such as, for         example, sodium cyanoborohydride.     -   Reaction of final compounds of Formula (I-a), (I-b), (I-c),         (I-d), (I-e) and (I-f) that contain in their structure one or         more hydroxy-substituents with an alcohol derivative by using a         suitable coupling system such as, for example,         di-tert-butylazodicarboxylate/triphenylphosphine under thermal         conditions.     -   1,3-Dipolar cyclo addition of final compounds of Formula (I-a),         (I-b), (I-c), (I-d), (I-e) and (I-f) that contain in their         structure a reactive double or triple bond with a suitable         dipole to yield the corresponding [3+2] adduct final compounds.         B. Preparation of the Intermediate Compounds         Experimental Procedure 8

Intermediate compounds of Formula (II-a) can be prepared by reacting an intermediate of Formula (X) with a suitable halogenating agent such as, for example, P(═O)Br₃, a reaction that is performed in a suitable reaction-inert solvent such as, for example, DMF, at a moderately elevated temperature such as, for example, 110° C. In reaction scheme (8), all variables are defined as in Formula (I) and R¹ is V¹-M¹.

Experimental Procedure 9

Intermediate compounds of Formula (II-b) can be prepared by reacting an intermediate of Formula (X) with triflic anhydride (also called trifloromethanesulfonic anhydride), a reaction that is performed in a suitable reaction-inert solvent such as, for example, dichloromethane, in the presence of a base such as, for example, pyridine at a low temperature such as, for example, −78° C. In reaction scheme (9), all variables are defined as in Formula (I) and R¹ is V¹-M¹.

Experimental Procedure 10

Intermediate compounds of Formula (II-c) can be prepared by reacting an intermediate compound of Formula (II-b) with pyridine, at a moderately low temperature such as, for example, 40° C. In reaction scheme (10), all variables are defined as in Formula (I) and R¹ is V¹-M¹.

Experimental Procedure 11

Intermediate compounds of Formula (X) can be prepared by art known procedures by reacting an intermediate compound of Formula (XI) with a suitable reagent for methylether-cleavage, such as, for example, NaOH, in a solvent such as, for example, water at a moderately high temperature such as, for example, 100° C. In reaction scheme (11), all variables are defined as in Formula (I) and R¹ is V¹-M¹.

Experimental Procedure 12

Intermediate compounds of Formula (XI) can be prepared by art known procedures by reacting an intermediate of Formula (XII) with an alkylating agent of Formula (IX), such as, for example, isopentylbromide, using a base such as, for example, K₂CO₃, and, optionally an iodine salt such as, for example, KI, in an inert solvent such as, for example, acetonitrile at a moderately high temperature such as, for example, 120° C. In reaction scheme (12), all variables are defined as in Formula (I), R¹ is V¹-M¹ and Z is a suitable leaving group such as, for example, halo.

Experimental Procedure 13

Intermediate compounds of Formula (III) can be prepared by art known procedures by reacting an intermediate of Formula (XIII) with a suitable boron source such as, for example, bis(pinacolato)diboron in the presence of a Palladium catalyst such as, for example, 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenepalladium(II)dichloride in a inert solvent such as, for example, dichloromethane, in the presence of a suitable salt such as, for example, potassium acetate at moderately high temperature such as, for example, 110° C. for as for example 16 hours. Additionally, compounds of Formula (III) can be prepared by art known procedures of metal-halogen exchange and subsequent reaction with an appropriate boron source from compounds of Formula (XIII). Thus for example reaction of an intermediate compound of Formula (XIII) with an organolithium compound such as, for example, n-butyllithium at a moderately low temperature such as, for example, −40° C. in an inert solvent such as, for example, THF followed by subsequent reaction with an appropriate boron source such as, for example, trimethoxyborane. In reaction scheme (13), all variables are defined as in Formula (I) and R⁵ and R⁶ may be hydrogen or alkyl, or may be taken together to form for example the bivalent radical of formula —CH₂CH₂—, —CH₂CH₂CH₂—, or —C(CH₃)₂C(CH₃)₂—.

The starting materials of Formula (X) and the intermediate compounds according to Formula (III), (IV), (V), (VI), (VII), (IX), (XII) and (XIII) are compounds that are either commercially available or may be prepared according to conventional reaction procedures generally known in the art.

It is evident that in the foregoing and in the following reactions, the reaction products may be isolated from the reaction medium and, if necessary, further purified according to methodologies generally known in the art, such as, for example, extraction, crystallization and chromatography. It is further evident that reaction products that exist in more than one enantiomeric form, may be isolated from their mixture by known techniques, in particular preparative chromatography, such as, for example, preparative HPLC.

Pharmacology

The compounds provided in this invention are positive allosteric modulators of metabotropic receptors, in particular they are positive allosteric modulators of mGluR2. The compounds of the present invention do not appear to bind to the glutamate recognition site, the orthosteric ligand site, but instead to an allosteric site within the seven transmembrane region of the receptor. In the presence of glutamate or an agonist of mGluR2, the compounds of this invention increase the mGluR2 response. The compounds provided in this invention are expected to have their effect at mGluR2 by virtue of their ability to increase the response of such receptors to glutamate or mGluR2 agonists, enhancing the response of the receptor. Hence, the present invention relates to a compound for use as a medicine, as well as to the use of a compound according to the invention or a pharmaceutical composition according to the invention for the manufacture of a medicament for treating or preventing a condition in a mammal, including a human, the treatment or prevention of which is affected or facilitated by the neuromodulatory effect of mGluR2 allosteric modulators, in particular positive mGluR2 allosteric modulators.

Also, the present invention relates to the use of a compound according to the invention or a pharmaceutical composition according to the invention for the manufacture of a medicament for treating, or preventing, ameliorating, controlling or reducing the risk of various neurological and psychiatric disorders associated with glutamate dysfunction in a mammal, including a human, the treatment or prevention of which is affected or facilitated by the neuromodulatory effect of mGluR2 positive allosteric modulators.

Where the invention is said to relate to the use of a compound or composition according to the invention for the manufacture of a medicament for e.g. the treatment of a mammal, it is understood that such use is to be interpreted in certain jurisdictions as a method of e.g. treatment of a mammal, comprising administering to a mammal in need of such e.g. a treatment, an effective amount of a compound or composition according to the invention.

In particular, the neurological and psychiatric disorders associated with glutamate dysfunction, include one or more of the following conditions or diseases: acute neurological and psychiatric disorders such as, for example, cerebral deficits subsequent to cardiac bypass surgery and grafting, stroke, cerebral ischemia, spinal cord trauma, head trauma, perinatal hypoxia, cardiac arrest, hypoglycemic neuronal damage, dementia (including AIDS-induced dementia), Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's Chorea, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ocular damage, retinopathy, cognitive disorders, idiopathic and drug-induced Parkinson's disease, muscular spasms and disorders associated with muscular spasticity including tremors, epilepsy, convulsions, migraine (including migraine headache), urinary incontinence, substance tolerance, substance withdrawal (including substances such as, for example, opiates, nicotine, tobacco products, alcohol, benzodiazepines, cocaine, sedatives, hypnotics, etc.), psychosis, schizophrenia, anxiety (including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder), mood disorders (including depression, mania, bipolar disorders), trigeminal neuralgia, hearing loss, tinnitus, macular degeneration of the eye, emesis, brain edema, pain (including acute and chronic states, severe pain, intractable pain, neuropathic pain, and post-traumatic pain), tardive dyskinesia, sleep disorders (including narcolepsy), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and conduct disorder.

In particular, the condition or disease is a central nervous system disorder selected from the group of anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, personality disorders, substance-related disorders, eating disorders, mood disorders, migraine, epilepsy or convulsive disorders, childhood disorders, cognitive disorders, neurodegeneration, neurotoxicity and ischemia.

Preferably, the central nervous system disorder is an anxiety disorder, selected from the group of agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social phobia and other phobias.

Preferably, the central nervous system disorder is a psychotic disorder selected from the group of schizophrenia, delusional disorder, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder and substance-induced psychotic disorder

Preferably, the central nervous system disorder is a personality disorder selected from the group of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder and schizoid, schizotypal disorder.

Preferably, the central nervous system disorder is a substance-related disorder selected from the group of alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, alcohol withdrawal, alcohol withdrawal delirium, alcohol-induced psychotic disorder, amphetamine dependence, amphetamine withdrawal, cocaine dependence, cocaine withdrawal, nicotine dependence, nicotine withdrawal, opioid dependence and opioid withdrawal.

Preferably, the central nervous system disorder is an eating disorder selected from the group of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

Preferably, the central nervous system disorder is a mood disorder selected from the group of bipolar disorders (I & II), cyclothymic disorder, depression, dysthymic disorder, major depressive disorder and substance-induced mood disorder.

Preferably, the central nervous system disorder is migraine.

Preferably, the central nervous system disorder is epilepsy or a convulsive disorder selected from the group of generalized nonconvulsive epilepsy, generalized convulsive epilepsy, petit mal status epilepticus, grand mal status epilepticus, partial epilepsy with or without impairment of consciousness, infantile spasms, epilepsy partialis continua, and other forms of epilepsy.

Preferably, the central nervous system disorder is attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Preferably, the central nervous system disorder is a cognitive disorder selected from the group of delirium, substance-induced persisting delirium, dementia, dementia due to HIV disease, dementia due to Huntington's disease, dementia due to Parkinson's disease, dementia of the Alzheimer's type, substance-induced persisting dementia and mild cognitive impairment.

Of the disorders mentioned above, the treatment of anxiety, schizophrenia, migraine, depression, and epilepsy are of particular importance.

At present, the fourth edition of the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) of the American Psychiatric Association provides a diagnostic tool for the identification of the disorders described herein. The person skilled in the art will recognize that alternative nomenclatures, nosologies, and classification systems for neurological and psychiatric disorders described herein exist, and that these evolve with medical and scientific progresses.

Because such positive allosteric modulators of mGluR2, including compounds of Formula (I), enhance the response of mGluR2 to glutamate, it is an advantage that the present methods utilize endogenous glutamate.

Because positive allosteric modulators of mGluR2, including compounds of Formula (I), enhance the response of mGluR2 to agonists, it is understood that the present invention extends to the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders associated with glutamate dysfunction by administering an effective amount of a positive allosteric modulator of mGluR2, including compounds of Formula (I), in combination with an mGluR2 agonist.

The compounds of the present invention may be utilized in combination with one or more other drugs in the treatment, prevention, control, amelioration, or reduction of risk of diseases or conditions for which compounds of Formula (I) or the other drugs may have utility, where the combination of the drugs together are safer or more effective than either drug alone.

Pharmaceutical Compositions

The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent and, as active ingredient, a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to the invention, in particular a compound according to Formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt thereof, a stereochemically isomeric form thereof, an N-oxide form thereof or a quaternary ammonium salt thereof.

The compounds according to the invention, in particular the compounds according to Formula (I), the pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt thereof, a stereochemically isomeric form thereof, an N-oxide form thereof or a quaternary ammonium salt thereof, or any subgroup or combination thereof may be formulated into various pharmaceutical forms for administration purposes. As appropriate compositions there may be cited all compositions usually employed for systemically administering drugs.

To prepare the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention, an effective amount of the particular compound, optionally in addition salt form, as the active ingredient is combined in intimate admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, which carrier may take a wide variety of forms depending on the form of preparation desired for administration. These pharmaceutical compositions are desirable in unitary dosage form suitable, in particular, for administration orally, rectally, percutaneously, by parenteral injection or by inhalation. For example, in preparing the compositions in oral dosage form, any of the usual pharmaceutical media may be employed such as, for example, water, glycols, oils, alcohols and the like in the case of oral liquid preparations such as, for example, suspensions, syrups, elixirs, emulsions and solutions; or solid carriers such as, for example, starches, sugars, kaolin, diluents, lubricants, binders, disintegrating agents and the like in the case of powders, pills, capsules and tablets. Because of their ease in administration, tablets and capsules represent the most advantageous oral dosage unit forms in which case solid pharmaceutical carriers are obviously employed. For parenteral compositions, the carrier will usually comprise sterile water, at least in large part, though other ingredients, for example, to aid solubility, may be included. Injectable solutions, for example, may be prepared in which the carrier comprises saline solution, glucose solution or a mixture of saline and glucose solution. Injectable suspensions may also be prepared in which case appropriate liquid carriers, suspending agents and the like may be employed. Also included are solid form preparations that are intended to be converted, shortly before use, to liquid form preparations. In the compositions suitable for percutaneous administration, the carrier optionally comprises a penetration enhancing agent and/or a suitable wetting agent, optionally combined with suitable additives of any nature in minor proportions, which additives do not introduce a significant deleterious effect on the skin. Said additives may facilitate the administration to the skin and/or may be helpful for preparing the desired compositions. These compositions may be administered in various ways, e.g., as a trans-dermal patch, as a spot-on, as an ointment.

It is especially advantageous to formulate the aforementioned pharmaceutical compositions in unit dosage form for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage. Unit dosage form as used herein refers to physically discrete units suitable as unitary dosages, each unit containing a predetermined quantity of active ingredient calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect in association with the required pharmaceutical carrier. Examples of such unit dosage forms are tablets (including scored or coated tablets), capsules, pills, powder packets, wafers, suppositories, injectable solutions or suspensions and the like, and segregated multiples thereof. Since the compounds according to the invention are potent orally administrable dopamine antagonists, pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds for administration orally are especially advantageous.

As already mentioned, the invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds according to the invention and one or more other drugs in the treatment, prevention, control, amelioration, or reduction of risk of diseases or conditions for which compounds of Formula (I) or the other drugs may have utility as well as to the use of such a composition for the manufacture of a medicament.

The following examples are intended to illustrate but not to limit the scope of the present invention.

Experimental Part

Several methods for preparing the compounds of this invention are illustrated in the following Examples. Unless otherwise noted, all starting materials were obtained from commercial suppliers and used without further purification. Specifically, the following abbreviations may be used in the examples and throughout the specification:

AcOEt (ethyl acetate) M (molar) AcOH (acetic acid) MeOH (methanol) BBr₃ (boron tribromide) mg (milligrams) BINAP (±)-1,1′-Bi(2-naphthol) MgSO₄ (magnesium sulphate) Br₂ (bromine) MHz (megahertz) CDCl₃ (deuterated chloroform) min (minutes) CCl₄ (carbon tetrachloride) μl (microliters) DCM (dichloromethane) ml (milliliters) MCPBA (3-chloroperbenzoic acid) mmol (millimol) DEAD (diethyl azodicarboxylate) m.p. (melting point) DIBAL (diisobutyl aluminium hydride) NaBH(OAc)₃ (Sodium triacetoxyboro- hydride) DME (dimethoxyethane) Na₂CO₃ (sodium carbonate) DMF (dimethylformamide) NaH (sodium hydride) DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) NaHCO₃ (sodium bicarbonate) Dppf (1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)ferrocene) NaHMDS (sodium hexamethyldisilazane) EDCl•HCl (1-3(dimethylaminopropyl)-3- NaI (sodium iodide) ethylcarbodiimide, hydrochloride) Et₃N (triethylamine) NaO^(t)Bu (sodium tert-butoxide) Et₂O (diethyl ether) Na₂SO₄ (sodium sulphate) EtOH (ethanol) NBS (N-bromosuccinimide) g (grams) NH₄Cl (ammonium chloride) ¹H (proton) NH₄OH (ammonium hydroxide) H₂ (hydrogen) NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Reasonance) HCl (hydrochloric acid) Pd₂(dba)₃ (palladium (II)dibenzylideneacetone) HPLC (High Pressure Liquid Chromatography) PdCl₂(dppf)₂ (Bis(1,1′-bis(diphenyl- phosphanyl)ferrocene palladium (II) di- chloride) Hz (Hertz) PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂ (Bis(triphenylphosphine) palladium (II) dichloride KBr (potassium bromide) Pd(OAc)₂ (Palladium acetate) K₂CO₃ (potassium carbonate) Pd(PPh₃)₄ (tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0)) KOAc (potassium acetate) P(═O)Br₃ (phosphorousoxybromide) KI (potassium iodide) PPh₃ (triphenylphosphine) KOtBu (potassium tert-butoxide) TFA (trifluoroacetic acid) KOH (potassium hydroxide) THF (tetrahydrofuran) K₃PO₄ (potassium phosphate) TLC (thin layer chromatography) LCMS (Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrum) Tf₂O (trifloromethanesulfonic anhydride) LiAlH₄ (lithium aluminium hydride) Xantphos (4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)- 9,9-dimethylxanthene

All references to brine refer to a saturated aqueous solution of NaCl. Unless otherwise indicated, all temperatures are expressed in ° C. (degrees Celsius). All reactions are conducted not under an inert atmosphere at room temperature, unless otherwise noted.

Microwave assisted reactions were performed in a single-mode reactor: Emrys™ Optimizer microwave reactor (Personal Chemistry A.B., currently Biotage). Description of the instrument can be found in www.personalchemistry.com. And in a multimode reactor: MicroSYNTH Labstation (Milestone, Inc.). Description of the instrument can be found in www.milestonesci.com.

A. Preparation of the Intermediate Compounds

A1. Intermediate Compound 1

The reaction was carried out under N₂ atmosphere. To a solution of commercially available 4-methoxy-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile (1.00 g, 6.60 mmol, 1 eq) in acetonitrile (45 ml) was added K₂CO₃ (2.73 g, 19.8 mmol, 3 eq) and isopentylbromide (441 mg, 8.65 mmol, 1.3 eq). The resulting solution was heated at 100° C. for 12 hours. The reaction was then cooled to room temperature and filtered through a pad of celite. The filtrate was then concentrated in vacuo. Subsequently, the crude residue thus obtained was purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, eluting with a gradient elution of between 0-2% MeOH in DCM) to yield intermediate compound 1 as a creamy solid (82%, 5.40 mmol).

A2. Intermediate Compounds 2 and 2′

A solution of intermediate compound 1 (1.5 g, 6.81 mmol) in aqueous NaOH (0.1 N, 75 ml) and THF (20 ml) was heated to 100° C. for 1 hour. The reaction was cooled to 0° C. and acidified by the addition of 1M HCl, adjusting the pH to about 3, at which point a white solid precipitated. The solid was filtered off and dried in vacuo to yield the N-isopentyl substituted intermediate compound 2 as a white solid (1.3 g, 6.30 mmol). In an equal manner was prepared the N-n-butyl substituted intermediate compound 2′.

A3. Intermediate Compounds 3, 3′ and 3″

The reaction was carried out under N₂ atmosphere. To a solution of intermediate compound 2 (2.00 g, 9.66 mmol, 1 eq) in DMF (10 ml) was added cautiously P(═O)Br₃ (5.54 g, 19.0 mmol, 2 eq), the resulting solution was then heated at 100° C. into a sealed tube for 2 hours. The reaction was then cooled to room temperature and diluted by H₂O (30 ml), the resulting solution was subsequently extracted with AcOEt (3×30 ml). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated in vacuo to yield an oil. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, eluting with DCM) to yield N-isopentyl substituted intermediate compound 3 as a creamy solid (2.13 g, 82%, 7.92 mmol). In an equal manner was prepared the N-n-butyl substituted intermediate compound 3′ and the N-methylcyclopropyl substituted intermediate compound 3″.

A4. Intermediate Compound 4

In a round flask containing intermediate compound 2 (100 mg, 0.48 mmol) in DCM (5 ml), were added 3 eq of pyridine (0.118 ml, 1.44 mmol). The mixture was cooled to −78° C. and Tf₂O (0.217 ml, 0.528 mmol) was added slowly. The solution was warmed to room temperature and stirred for ½ hour. The mixture was hydrolized with cold water, extracted with DCM (3×10 ml), washed twice with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and evaporated under reduced pressure to yield intermediate compound 4 (133 mg).

A6. Intermediate Compound 6

The reaction was carried out under nitrogen atmosphere. To a solution of N-(2-bromo-benzyl)-acetamide (468 mg, 2.02 mmol) in acetonitrile (45 ml) was added di-tent-butyl dicarbonate (1.34 g, 6.15 mmol) and N,N-dimethaminopyridine (501 mg, 4.1 mmol). The reaction mixture was then stirred at room temperature for 20 min, after which time it was diluted with AcOEt (40 ml) and washed with a saturated solution of NaHCO₃ (2×40 ml) and a saturated solution of NH₄Cl (3×40 ml). The organic layer was then dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated in vacuo to yield a crude solid. This was purified by short open column chromatography (SiO₂, eluting with 2% MeOH in DCM) to yield intermediate compound 6 as a yellow oil (590.00 mg, 89%, 1.79 mmol).

A7. Intermediate Compound 7

To a solution of intermediate compound 6 (200 mg, 0.61 mmol) in DMSO (4 ml) was added bis(pinacolato)diboron (232 mg, 0.913 mmol) and potassium KOAc (180 mg, 1.83 mmol) the solution was then degassed using a stream of nitrogen and then to the reaction mixture was added 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenepalladium (II) dichloride, DCM (20.0 mg, 0.0183 mmol). The reaction mixture was then heated at 110° C. under a nitrogen atmosphere for 16 hours. The reaction was then cooled to room temperature and diluted with AcOEt (30 ml) and the resulting solution was washed with water (3×15 ml), the organic fraction was then dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated in vacuo to yield the desired compound. The product was purified by short open column chromatography (SiO₂, eluting with DCM) to yield intermediate compound 7 as yellow oil (149.0 mg, 89%, 0.054 mmol).

A8. Intermediate Compound 8

The reaction was carried out under N₂ atmosphere. 4-Bromobenzeneboronic acid pinacol cyclic ester (300 mg, 1.06 mmol), N-acetylethylenediamine (0.155 ml, 1.59 mmol), Xantphos (123 mg, 0.21 mmol), and Cs₂CO₃ (518 mg, 1.59 mmol) were added to a mixture of 1,4-dioxane (5.88 ml) and DMF (0.12 ml) at room temperature, and N₂ was fluxed through the mixture for 5 min. Pd(OAc)₂ (24 mg, 0.1 mmol) was added and the mixture was irradiated under microwave conditions at 170° C. for 10 min into a sealed tube. The reaction was then cooled to room temperature and filtered through a pad of celited. The volatiles were evaporated in vacuum and the residues thus obtained was purified by short open column chromatography (SiO₂, eluting with DCM/MeOH(NH₃) to yield intermediate compound 8 (80 mg).

A9. Intermediate Compound 9

To a solution of 4-pyridinethiol (149 mg, 1.35 mmol) in dimethylformamide (5 ml) was added K₂CO₃ (186 mg, 1.35 mmol); the resulting solution was stirred for 12 min and to this subsequently was added a solution of 2-(4-bromomethyl-phenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolane (400 mg, 1.35 mmol) and the resulting solution was stirred for 2 hours. The mixture was then diluted by the addition of water (30 ml) and extracted with AcOEt (3×15 ml); the organic layer was subsequently dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated in vacuo to yield the crude product. The crude reaction mixture was subsequently purified by Biotage purification (eluting with DCM) to yield intermediate compound 9. (406.0 mg, 1.24 mmol, 92%).

A10. Intermediate Compound 10

Commercially available 4-methoxy-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile (4.70 g, 31.29 mmol, 1 eq), 4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzylbromide (5.44 ml, 32.86 mmol, 1.05 eq) and K₂CO₃ (12.9 g, 93.8 mmol, 3 eq) were mixed in acetonitrile (200 ml). The mixture was heated at 140° C. for 16 hours into a sealed tube. The reaction was then cooled to room temperature and the solvents were evaporated in vacuum. The resulting residue was dissolved in DCM and filtered through a pad of celite. The filtrate was then concentrated in vacuo. Subsequently, the white solid thus obtained was triturated with diethylether to yield intermediate compound 10 as a white solid (9.20 g, 91%).

A11. Intermediate Compound 11

To a solution of intermediate compound 10 (9.20 g, 28.37 mmol) in THF (100 ml) was added aqueous NaOH (0.1 N, 300 ml). The reaction mixture was heated at 100° C. for 4 hours. The reaction was then cooled to room temperature and the THF was evaporated in vacuum. The resulting basic aqueous phase was acidified by the addition of 2 N HCl, adjusting the pH to about 3, at which point a white solid precipitated. The solid was filtered off, washed with diethylether and dried in vacuo to yield the intermediate compound 11 as a white solid (8.05 g, 91%).

A12. Intermediate Compound 12

Intermediate compound 11 (6.57 g, 21.19 mmol, 1 eq) and P(═O)Br₃ (12.15 g, 42.39 mmol, 2 eq) were mixed in DMF (125 ml) and the resulting mixture was then heated at 110° C. for 1 hour. The reaction was then cooled to room temperature and diluted with H₂O (200 ml), the resulting solution was subsequently extracted with AcOEt (3×75 ml). The organic layer was dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated in vacuo. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, eluting with DCM) to yield intermediate compound 12 as a white solid (6.75 g). In a similar manner was made intermediate compound 12′ wherein the phenyl moiety in the para-position is substituted with a fluor instead of a trifluoromethoxy moiety.

A13. Intermediate Compound 13

To a mixture of 4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenol (500 mg, 2.27 mmol), N-(2-hydroxyethyl)morpholine (330.8 mg, 2.72 mmol) and PPh₃ polymer bound (loading 2.15 mmol/g) (2.11 g, 4.54 mmol) in dry DCM (30 ml) at 0° C. was added di-tert-butylazodicarboxylate (784.0 mg, 3.40 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. Then, the resin was filtered off, washed with DCM and the filtrate concentrated in vacuo. The residue (756.45 mg) was used in the next reaction step without further purification

A14. Intermediate Compound 14

Intermediate compound 3 (200 mg, 0.74 mmol), 1-tert-butoxycarbonylpiperazine (151 mg, 0.81 mmol), K₃PO₄ (236 mg, 1.1 mmol) and catalyst [577971-19-8] CAS (10 mg) were mixed in 1,4-dioxane (3 ml) at room temperature. The corresponding mixture was heated at 85° C. in a sealed tube for 16 hours. The mixture was cooled to room temperature, filtered through a pad of celite and washed with DCM. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo and the residue thus obtained was purified by flash chromatography to yield intermediate compound 14 (200 mg, 72%).

A16. Intermediate Compound 16

A mixture of 5-(4-bromophenyl)-1,3-oxazole (220 mg, 0.98 mmol), bis(pinacolato)-diboron (372 mg, 1.47 mmol), 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenepalladium(II) dichloride, DCM (24 mg, 0.0294 mmol), KOAc (288 mg, 2.93 mmol) in DMSO (7 ml) was heated at 110° C. for 16 hours. The mixture was cooled to room temperature, diluted with AcOEt (30 ml) and washed with water (3×15 ml). The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄, evaporated in vacuum and the residue thus obtained (200 mg) was used in the next reaction step without further purification.

A17. Intermediate Compound 17

A solution of commercially available 4-methoxy-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile (4.0 g, 0.0266 mol), beta-bromophenetole (5.62 g, 0.0279 mol) and K₂CO₃ (11.0 g, 0.0799 mol) in CH₃CN (150 ml) was heated at reflux for 16 hours. The reaction mixture was then filtered off and the filtrate concentrated in vacuo. The residue was recrystallised from ethylether to yield intermediate compound 17 (7 g, 97%).

A18. Intermediate Compound 18

To a solution of intermediate compound 17 (7.0 g, 0.0259 mol) in MeOH (100 ml) was added aqueous NaOH (0.1 N, 200 ml). The reaction mixture was heated to 100° C. for 3 hours. The reaction was then cooled to room temperature and the MeOH was evaporated in vacuum. The resulting basic aqueous phase was acidified by the addition of 2 N HCl, adjusting the pH to about 3, at which point a white solid precipitated. The solid was collected using a sintered funnel, washed with ethylether and dried in vacuo to yield intermediate compound 18 as white solid (5.78 g, 87%).

A19. Intermediate Compound 19

Intermediate compound 18 (7.10 g, 0.027 mol) and P(═O)Br₃ (15.886 g, 0.055 mol) were mixed in DMF (150 ml) and the resulting mixture was then heated at 110° C. for 3 hours. The reaction was then cooled to room temperature and diluted by H₂O (100 ml), the resulting solution was subsequently extracted with AcOEt (3×150 ml). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated in vacuo. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, eluting with DCM) to yield intermediate compound 19 (7.67 g, 89%).

A20. Intermediate Compound 20

In a round flask containing 3-(trifluoromethyl)benzaldehyde ([454-89-7] CAS) (0.872 ml, 0.0065 mol) and 4-piperidinemethanol (0.5 g, 0.0043 mol) in DCE (20-30 ml) and a few drops of AcOH, NaBH(OAc)₃ (2.2 g, 0.0107 mol) was added. The mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature, after which time it was washed with a saturated solution of NaHCO₃ and extracted with DCM. The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated in vacuo. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography to yield intermediate compound 20 (0.610 g, 56%).

A23. Intermediate Compound 23

In a round flask containing methyl-4-formylbenzoate (5.6 g, 0.034 mol) and morpholine (2 g, 0.023 mol) in DCE (20 ml), few drops of AcOH and molecular sieves (4 A) were added. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 40 min and NaBH(OAc)₃ (5 g, 0.023 mol) was added. The mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature, after which time another equivalent of NaBH(OAc)₃ (5 g, 0.023 mol) was added. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 5 hours and was subsequently washed with HCl (1 N) and extracted with DCM. The organic layer was finally washed with a saturated solution of NaHCO₃. The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated in vacuo. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography (DCM/MeOH(NH₃) mixtures) to yield intermediate compound 23 (3 g, 60%)

A24. Intermediate Compound 24

The reaction was carried out under N₂ atmosphere. To a solution of intermediate compound 23 (2 g, 0.0085 mol) in THF (12 ml), lithium aluminum hydride (1 M in THF) (17 ml, 0.017 mol) was slowly added. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. Then, a saturated solution of NaHCO₃ was carefully added and the mixture was extracted with DCM. The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated in vacuo to yield intermediate compound 24 (1.75 g, 100%) which was used in the next reaction step without further purification.

A28. Intermediate Compound 28

A mixture of intermediate compound 3 (250 mg, 0.93 mmol), tributyl(vinyl)tin (0.325 ml, 1.11 mmol) and Pd(PPh₃)₄ (22 mg, 0.0186 mmol) in degassed toluene (10 ml) was microwaved at 130° C. for 25 min. The mixture was then cooled to room temperature and solvents were evaporated in vacuum. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, DCM/MeOH(NH₃) mixtures) to yield intermediate compound 28 (100 mg, 50%) as pale yellow solid.

A29. Intermediate Compound 29

To a solution of 4-pyridylcarbinol (15 g, 137.4 mmol) in DCM (200 ml) was added thionyl chloride (43.6 ml) and the resulting reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 4 h. The mixture was cooled to room temperature and the solvent was evaporated in vacuo. The residue was diluted with DCM and washed with a saturated solution of NaHCO₃. The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated in vacuo to yield intermediate compound 29 (17.18 g, 99%).

A30. Intermediate Compound 30

To a mixture of NaH (60% in mineral oil) (0.718 g, 17.96 mmol) in THF (20 ml), a solution of 5-bromoindole (2.34 g, 11.8 mmol) in THF (17 ml) was added dropwise. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 h. Then, intermediate compound 29 (1.81 g, 14.2 mmol) was added and the mixture was heated at 80° C. overnight. The cooled reaction mixture was washed with H₂O and extracted with AcOEt. The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and evaporated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, DCM/MeOH mixtures) to yield intermediate compound 30 (2.73 g, 80%).

A31. Intermediate Compound 31

To a solution of intermediate compound 30 (2.73 g, 9.5 mmol) in DMSO (27 ml) was added bis(pinacolato)diboron (2.414 g, 9.5 mmol) and KOAc (2.8 g, 28.5 mmol). The solution was then degassed using a stream of nitrogen and then to the reaction mixture was added 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenepalladium (II) dichloride, DCM (0.23 g, 0.28 mmol). The reaction mixture was then heated at 110° C. overnight under a nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction was then cooled to room temperature and additional amounts of bis(pinacolato)diboron (1.63 g, 6.4 mmol), KOAc (1.89 g, 19.2 mmol) and 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenepalladium (II) dichloride, DCM (0.155 g, 0.19 mmol) were added and the mixture was heated at 130° C. overnight. The cooled reaction mixture was diluted with AcOEt, filtered through a pad of celite and the filtrate was washed with water. The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated in vacuo to yield intermediate compound 31 (4.5 g, quant.) used in the next reaction step without further purification.

A32. Intermediate Compound 32

To a mixture of (N-tert-butoxycarbonyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-4-boronic acid pinacol ester ([286961-14-6] CAS) (1.5 g, 4.8 mmol) in a mixture of 1,4-dioxane (8 ml) and DMF (2 ml) were added 4-chloro-2-picoline (0.308 g, 2.4 mmol), 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenepalladium(II) dichloride, DCM (0.293 g, 0.36 mmol) and potassium carbonate (0.993 g, 7.2 mmol). The mixture was then degassed using a stream of nitrogen and then microwaved at 160° C. for 90 min. The cooled reaction mixture was filtered through a pad of celite and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, DCM/MeOH(NH₃) mixtures) to yield intermediate compound 32 (0.5 g, 38%).

A33. Intermediate Compound 33

A solution of intermediate compound 32 (0.5 g, 1.82 mmol) in a 20% solution of TFA in DCM (10 ml) was stirred at room temperature for 4 hours, after which time the solvent was evaporated. The residue (0.5 g) was used in the next reaction step without further purification.

A35. Intermediate Compound 35

To a solution of intermediate compound 2′ (1.5 g, 7.8 mmol) in acetonitrile (13 ml), (4-bromomethylphenyl)boronic acid, pinacol ester (3.0 g, 9.76 mmol) ([138500-85-3] CAS) and cesium carbonate (5.92 g, 15.6 mmol) were added. The reaction mixture was microwaved at 160° C. for 30 min. Then, solvents were evaporated in vacuo and the residue was purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, DCM/MeOH mixtures) to yield intermediate compound 35 (2.93 g, 92%).

A36. Intermediate Compound 36

A mixture of intermediate compound 3 (0.366 g, 1.361 mmol),

(compound described in US 2005187277 A1) (0.436 g, 1.63 mmol, Pd(PPh₃)₄ (0.157 g, 0.136 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (2 ml) and a saturated solution of Na₂CO₃ (2 ml) was microwaved at 150° C. for 10 min. The resulting reaction mixture was then filtered through a pad of celite and the filtrate evaporated in vacuum. The residue was subsequently purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, DCM/MeOH(NH₃) mixtures) to yield intermediate compound 36 (0.55 g, 98%). A39. Intermediate Compound 39

To a solution of 4-aminomethylphenylboronic acid, pinacol ester (CAS 138500-88-6) (1.2 g, 5.14 mmol) and Et₃N (1.42 ml, 10.28 mmol) in DCM (50 ml) stirred at room temperature, di-tert-butyldicarbonate (1.68 g, 7.72 mmol) was added. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. The solvent was evaporated in vacuum to yield a residue which was treated with diethylether to yield intermediate compound 39 (1.7 g) as a solid, 99%) used in the next reaction step without further purification.

A40. Intermediate Compound 40

To a solution of intermediate compound 39 (1.7 g, 5.14 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (3 ml) and a saturated solution of NaCO₃ (3 ml) was added intermediate compound 3 (1.15 g, 4.28 mmol). The resulting solution was degassed using a stream of nitrogen and to this was added Pd(PPh₃)₄ (485.0 mg, 0.42 mmol). The reaction was then microwaved into a sealed tube at 150° C. for 10 min. The resulting reaction mixture was then filtered through a pad of celite and the filtrate concentrated in vacuo. The crude reaction mixture was then purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, DCM/MeOH(NH₃) 9:1) to yield intermediate compound 40 (1.3 g, 77%).

A41. Intermediate Compound 41

To a solution of intermediate compound 40 (0.125 g, 0.316 mmol) in DMF (dried, 5 ml) at 0° C., NaH (60% mineral oil; 0.019 mg, 0.474 mmol) was added. The resulting suspension was stirred at 0° C. (under nitrogen atmosphere) for 30 min. Then, 3-fluorobenzylbromide (0.059 ml, 0.474 mmol) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours. Then, water was added and the resulting aqueous mixture was extracted with AcOEt. The organic layer was washed with a saturated solution of NaCl. The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄. The crude reaction mixture was then purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, DCM/MeOH(NH₃) 9:1) to yield intermediate compound 41 (0.082 g, 51%) as a yellow oil.

A42. Intermediate Compound 42

To a mixture of 4-bromo-2-fluoroaniline (0.6 g, 3.15 mmol), tetrahydro-4H-pyran-4-one (0.68 g, 6.31 mmol) and NaBH(OAc)₃ (0.96 g, 4.72 mmol) in DCE (20 ml), molecular sieves (4 A) (1 g) were added. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 h. Then, additional amounts of tetrahydro-4H-pyran-4-one (0.34 g, 3.15 mmol) and NaBH(OAc)₃ (0.66 g, 3.15 mmol) were added and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 48 h. Then, the reaction mixture was filtered through a pad of celite and washed with DCM. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to yield intermediate compound 42 (0.86 g, quant.) used in the next reaction step without further purification.

A43. Intermediate Compound 43

To a solution of intermediate compound 42 (0.86 g, 3.15 mmol) in DMSO (3 ml) was added bis(pinacolato)diboron (0.80 g, 3.15 mmol) and KOAc (0.93 g, 9.45 mmol) the solution was then degassed using a stream of nitrogen and then to the reaction mixture was added 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenepalladium (II) dichloride, DCM (0.07 g, 0.09 mmol). The reaction mixture was then heated at 120° C. under a nitrogen atmosphere for 16 hours. The reaction was then cooled to room temperature and diluted with water (50 ml) and the resulting solution was extracted with AcOEt, the organic fraction was then dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated in vacuo to yield intermediate compound 43 (1.01 g, 100%) used in the next reaction step without further purification.

A44. Intermediate Compound 44

To a solution of NaH (60% in mineral oil) (0.13 g, 3.25 mmol) in DMF (5 ml) was added commercially available 4-bromophenol (0.50 g, 2.89 mmol) and the reaction was stirred at room temperature for 10 min. Then, 4-chloro-2-picoline (0.30 g, 2.40 mmol) was added and the resulting reaction mixture was then microwaved at 150° C. for 10 min. After cooling, the mixture was diluted with water and extracted with Et₂O. The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated in vacuo. The residue thus obtained was purified by flash chromatography (DCM) to yield intermediate compound 44 (0.52 g, 81%).

A45. Intermediate Compound 45

To a solution of intermediate compound 44 (0.50 g, 1.89 mmol) in DMSO (5 ml) was added bis(pinacolato)diboron (0.72 g, 2.84 mmol) and KOAc (0.56 g, 5.68 mmol) the solution was then degassed using a stream of nitrogen and then to the reaction mixture was added 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenepalladium (II) dichloride, DCM (0.05 g, 0.06 mmol). The reaction mixture was then heated at 110° C. under a nitrogen atmosphere for 16 hours. The reaction was then cooled to room temperature and diluted with water and the resulting solution was extracted with AcOEt, the organic fraction was then dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated in vacuo to yield intermediate compound 45 (0.58 g, 100%) used in the next reaction step without further purification.

B. Preparation of the Final Compounds

B1. Final Compound 1-110

To a solution of 3,4-dimethoxyphenylboronic acid (740.0 mg, 4.08 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (14 ml) and a saturated solution of NaHCO₃ (14 ml) was added intermediate compound 3 (1.00 g, 3.70 mmol). The resulting solution was degassed using a stream of nitrogen and to this was added Pd(PPh₃)₄ (641.0 mg, 0.55 mmol). The reaction was then microwaved into a sealed tube at 150° C. for 10 min. The resulting reaction mixture was then filtered through a pad of celite and the filtrate concentrated in vacuo. The crude reaction mixture was then purified by flash chromatography (eluting with a solvent gradient 0-2% MeOH in DCM) to yield the desired compound. The compound was then recrystallised from diethylether to yield the final compound 1-110 (940.0 mg, 2.88 mmol, 78%).

B2. Final Compound 1-179

Intermediate compound 4 (150 mg, 0.44 mmol), and 4-(acetamidomethyl)phenylboronic acid (129 mg, 0.67 mmol) were mixed in 1,4-dioxane (5 ml) and Et₃N (0.12 ml, 0.89 mmol) at room temperature and N₂ was flushed through the mixture for 5 min. Pd(PPh₃)₄ (77 mg, 0.067 mmol) was added and the resulting mixture was heated at 90° C. for 2 hours. The mixture was cooled to room temperature, diluted with AcOEt and brine. The aqueous phase was extracted with AcOEt (3×20 ml). The combined organics layers were dried over Na₂SO₄, evaporated in vacuum and the residue thus obtained was purified by column chromatography (SiO₂, DCM/AcOEt) to yield 16 mg of final compound 1-179 as a white solid.

B3. Final Compound 1-114

Intermediate compound 4 (150 mg, 0.44 mmol), 3-fluoro-4-methoxyphenylboronic acid (110 mg, 0.67 mmol) were mixed in 1,4-dioxane (5 ml) and Et₃N (0.12 ml, 0.89 mmol) at room temperature and N₂ was flushed through the mixture for 5 min. Pd(PPh₃)₄ (77 mg, 0.067 mmol) was added and the resulting mixture was heated at 90° C. for 2 hours. The mixture was cooled to room temperature, diluted with AcOEt and brine. The aqueous phase was extracted with AcOEt (3×20 ml). The combined organics layers were dried over Na₂SO₄, evaporated in vacuum and the residue thus obtained was purified by column chromatography (SiO₂, DCM/AcOEt) to yield 43 mg of final compound 1-114 as a yellow solid.

B4. Final Compound 1-095

Intermediate compound 4 (150 mg, 0.44 mmol) and 4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-phenylboronic acid (120 mg, 0.67 mmol) were mixed in 1,4-dioxane (5 ml) and Et₃N (0.12 ml, 0.89 mmol) at room temperature and N₂ was flushed through the mixture for 5 min. Pd(PPh₃)₄ (77 mg, 0.067 mmol) was added and the resulting mixture was heated at 90° C. for 2 hours. The mixture was cooled to room temperature, diluted with AcOEt and brine. The aqueous phase was extracted with AcOEt (3×20 ml). The combined organics layers were dried over Na₂SO₄, evaporated in vacuum and the residue thus obtained was purified by column chromatography (SiO₂, DCM/AcOEt) to yield 40 mg of final compound 1-095 as a white solid.

B5. Final Compound 1-103

Intermediate compound 4 (150 mg, 0.44 mmol), 4-(methoxymethyl)phenylboronic acid (110 mg, 0.67 mmol) were mixed in 1,4-dioxane (5 ml) and Et₃N (0.12 ml, 0.89 mmol) at room temperature and N₂ was flushed through the mixture for 5 min. Pd(PPh₃)₄ (77 mg, 0.067 mmol) was added and the resulting mixture was heated at 90° C. for 2 hours. The mixture was cooled to room temperature, diluted with AcOEt and brine. The aqueous phase was extracted with AcOEt (3×20 ml). The combined organics layers were dried over Na₂SO₄, evaporated in vacuum and the residue thus obtained was purified by column chromatography (SiO₂, DCM/AcOEt) to yield 52 mg of final compound 1-103 as a white solid.

B6. Final Compound 1-178

To a solution of intermediate compound 7 (220.0 mg, 0.58 mmol), in 1,4-dioxane (6 ml) and a saturated solution of Na₂CO₃ (6 ml) was added intermediate compound 3 (173 mg, 0.65 mmol). The resulting solution was degassed using a stream of nitrogen and to this was added Pd(PPh₃)₄ (101.0 mg, 0.088 mmol). The reaction was then microwaved at 150° C. for 10 min. The resulting reaction mixture was then filtered through a pad of celite and the filtrate concentrated in vacuo. The crude reaction mixture was then purified by preparative HPLC to yield the pure final compound 1-178 (51 mg, 0.15 mmol, 26%).

B7. Final Compound 1-097

To a solution of 4-hydroxyphenylboronic acid (336 mg, 2.44 mmol), in 1,4-dioxane (20 ml) and a saturated solution of NEt₃ (0.615 ml, 4.43 mmol) was added final compound 5-052 (750 mg, 1.79 mmol). The resulting solution was degassed using a stream of nitrogen and to this was added Pd(PPh₃)₄ (384 mg, 0.33 mmol). The reaction was heated at 90° C. for 2 hours into a sealed tube. The resulting reaction mixture cooled to room temperature, was diluted with water and brine and extracted with AcOEt. The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄ and vacuum concentrated. The crude reaction mixture was then purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, eluting with mixtures of heptane/AcOEt) to yield the final compound 1-097 (230 mg, 45%).

B8. Final Compound 1-274

To a solution of phenol (0.042 ml, 0.48 mmol) in dry THF (3 ml) at room temperature, NaH (60% in mineral oil, 13.83 mg, 0.96 mmol) was added. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 5 min. Final compound 5-052 (100 mg, 0.24 mmol) was added. The mixture was microwaved into a sealed tube for 10 min at 80° C. The mixture was cooled to room temperature, solvents were evaporated in vacuo and the residue thus obtained was purified by column chromatography (SiO₂, DCM/MeOH(NH₃) mixtures) to yield 55 mg of final compound 1-274 as a white solid.

B9. Final Compound 1-298

Intermediate compound 3 (100 mg, 0.371 mmol), aniline (0.067 ml, 0.743 mmol) K₃PO₄ (158 mg, 0.745 mmol) and catalyst [577971-19-8] CAS (10 mg) were mixed in 1,4-dioxane (15 ml) at room temperature. The corresponding mixture was stirred at 80° C. (oil bath temperature) into a sealed tube for 12 hours. The mixture was cooled to room temperature and AcOEt (30 ml) and NaHCO₃ (10 ml, aqueous saturated solution) were added to the reaction mixture. Layers were separated and the organic one was dried over Na₂SO₄. Solvents were evaporated in vacuum and the residue thus obtained was purified by flash chromatography to yield final compound 1-298 (50 mg).

B10. Final Compound 1-267

Reaction under nitrogen atmosphere. Intermediate compound 3 (150 mg, 0.557 mmol), phenylacetylene (0.064 ml, 0.580 mmol), PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂ (19.6 mg, 0.028 mmol) PPh₃ (3.7 mg, 0.014 mmol) and NEt₃ (0.078 ml, 2.23 mmol) were mixed in THF (6 ml) at room temperature and N₂ was flushed through the mixture for 5 min. CuI (1.3 mg, 0.007 mmol) was added and the resulting mixture was heated at 90° C. (oil bath temperature) into a sealed tube for 10 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and aqueous Na₂S₂O₄ (saturated solution) was added. DCM (30 ml) was added and the layers were separated. The organic layer was washed with aqueous NaHCO₃ (saturated solution), dried over Na₂SO₄ and vacuum concentrated. The residue thus obtained was purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, DCM/MeOH(NH₃) mixtures) to yield final compound 1-267 (57 mg).

B11. Final Compound 1-260

10% Pd/C (10 mg) was added to a solution of final compound 1-267 (45 mg, 0.155 mmol) and 1,4-cyclohexadiene (0.22 ml, 2.32 mmol) in MeOH (5 ml) at room temperature. The resulting mixture was stirred into a sealed tube for 12 hours. The catalyst was filtered off and solvents were evaporated in vacuo. The residue thus obtained was taken up in MeOH (15 ml) and 10% Pd/C (10 mg) was added. The resulting mixture was hydrogenated with hydrogen (20 psi) for 3 hours. The catalyst was filtered off and the solvent was evaporated. The residue thus obtained was purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, DCM/MeOH(NH₃) mixtures) and then by reverse phase HPLC chromatography to yield final compound 1-260 as a white solid (1.63 mg).

B12. Final Compound 1-182

To a solution of intermediate compound 8 (80 mg, 0.62 mmol), in 1,4-dioxane (1 ml) and a saturated solution of Na₂CO₃ (1 ml) was added intermediate compound 3 (64.34 mg, 0.239 mmol). The resulting solution was degassed using a stream of nitrogen and to this solution was added Pd(PPh₃)₄ (41.4 mg, 0.035 mmol). The reaction was then microwaved at 140° C. for 5 min. The resulting reaction mixture was subsequently filtered through a pad of celite and AcOEt (10 ml) was added. H₂O (10 ml) was added and layers were separated. The organic layers were dried (Mg₂SO₄) and vacuum concentrated. The resulting residue was then purified by column chromatography (SiO₂, DCM/MeOH(NH₃) mixtures) to yield the pure final compound 1-182 (28 mg) as bright yellow solid.

B13. Final Compound 1-258

To a solution of intermediate compound 9 (121 mg, 0.371 mmol), in 1,4-dioxane (3 ml) and a saturated solution of NaHCO₃ (3 ml) was added intermediate compound 3 (100 g, 3.71 mmol). The resulting solution was degassed using a stream of nitrogen and to this was added Pd(PPh₃)₄ (64.0 mg, 0.056 mmol). The reaction was then microwaved at 150° C. for 10 min. The resulting reaction mixture was then filtered through a pad of celite and the filtrate concentrated in vacuo. The crude reaction mixture was then purified by HPLC purification to yield final compound 1-258 (13.0 mg, 0.034 mmol, 10%).

B14. Final Compound 1-239

Intermediate compound 4 (150 mg, 0.44 mmol) and 4-(methyl-3-propanoate)phenylboronic acid (140 mg, 0.67 mmol) were mixed in 1,4-dioxane (5 ml) and Et₃N (0.12 ml, 0.89 mmol) at room temperature, and N₂ was flushed through the mixture for 5 min. Pd(PPh₃)₄ (77 mg, 0.06 mmol) was added to the mixture and the resulting mixture was heated at 90° C. for 2 hours. The mixture was cooled to room temperature, diluted with AcOEt and brine. The aqueous phase was extracted with AcOEt (3×20 ml). The combined organics layers were dried over Na₂SO₄, evaporated in vacuum and the residue thus obtained was purified by column chromatography (SiO₂, DCM/AcOEt) to yield 63 mg of final compound 1-239 as a yellow solid.

B15. Final Compound 1-240

To a solution of final compound 1-239 (20 mg, 0.057 mmol) in THF/H₂O 1:1 (4 ml) at 0° C. was added lithium hydroxide (24 mg, 0.57 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred for 30 min and the solution was concentrated. The pH was adjusted to pH=2 with a 1 N solution of HCl and the precipite thus formed was filtered off and dried, to yield 10 mg of the final compound 1-240 as a white solid.

B16. Final Compound 2-043

Intermediate compound 12 (300 mg, 0.804 mmol), 1-(2-phenylethyl)piperazine (0.176 ml, 0.964 mmol) K₃PO₄ (341 mg, 1.60 mmol) and catalyst [577971-19-8] CAS (10 mg) were mixed in 1,4-dioxane (6 ml) at room temperature. The corresponding mixture was heated at 110° C. into a sealed tube for 16 hours. The mixture was cooled to room temperature, filtered through a pad of celite and washed with AcOEt. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo and the residue thus obtained was purified by flash chromatography to yield final compound 2-043 as a pale yellow solid (349 mg, 90%).

B17. Final Compound 1-037

Intermediate compound 12 (350 mg, 0.938 mmol) and intermediate compound 13 (375 mg, 1.12 mmol) were mixed in 1,4-dioxane (3 ml) and a saturated solution of Na₂CO₃ (3 ml). The resulting solution was degassed using a stream of nitrogen and to this was added Pd(PPh₃)₄ (108.3 mg, 0.093 mmol). The reaction was then microwaved into a sealed tube at 150° C. for 10 min. The resulting reaction mixture was then filtered through a pad of celite and washed with AcOEt. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo and the residue thus obtained was purified by flash chromatography to yield the final compound 1-037 (305.6 mg, 65%).

B18. Final Compound 2-022

A mixture of final compound 2-056 (150 mg, 0.55 mmol), 3-chloro-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzyl bromide (0.16 ml, 0.55 mmol) and K₂CO₃ (150 mg, 1.1 mmol) in DMF (2 ml) was stirred overnight at room temperature. The resulting reaction mixture was then filtered through a pad of celite and washed with AcOEt. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo and the residue thus obtained was purified by flash chromatography to yield the desired compound. The compound was then recrystallised from diethylether to yield the final compound 2-022 (170 mg, 64%).

B19. Final Compound 1-250

Intermediate compound 3 (198 mg, 0.74 mmol) and intermediate compound 16 (200 mg, 0.74 mmol) were mixed in 1,4-dioxane (5 ml) and a saturated solution of Na₂CO₃ (5 ml). The resulting solution was degassed using a stream of nitrogen and to this was added Pd(PPh₃)₄ (128 mg, 0.115 mmol). The reaction was then microwaved into a sealed tube at 150° C. for 10 min. The resulting reaction mixture was then filtered through a pad of celite and washed with AcOEt. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo and the residue thus obtained was purified by flash chromatography to yield the final compound 1-250 (63.9 mg, 26%, yield based on two subsequent reaction steps).

B20. Final Compound 1-223

Intermediate compound 3 (727 mg, 2.70 mmol) and commercially available 4-(morpholino)phenylboronic acid (560 mg, 2.70 mmol) were mixed in 1,4-dioxane (10 ml) and a saturated solution of Na₂CO₃ (10 ml). The resulting solution was degassed using a stream of nitrogen and to this was added Pd(PPh₃)₄ (468 mg, 0.405 mmol). The reaction was then microwaved into a sealed tube at 150° C. for 10 min. The resulting reaction mixture was then filtered through a pad of celite and the filtrate was washed with water (10 ml). The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and evaporated in vacuum. The crude reaction mixture was subsequently purified by flash chromatography to yield the desired compound. The compound was then recrystallised from ethylether to yield the final compound 1-223 (620 mg, 65%).

B21. Final Compound 1-049

Intermediate compound 19 (250 mg, 0.783 mmol) and 3-chloro-4-isopropoxy-phenylboronic acid (159 mg, 0.86 mmol) were mixed in 1,4-dioxane (2.5 ml) and a saturated solution of NaHCO₃ (2.5 ml). The resulting solution was degassed using a stream of nitrogen and to this was added Pd(PPh₃)₄ (130 mg, 0.11 mmol). The reaction was then microwaved into a sealed tube at 150° C. for 10 min. The resulting reaction mixture was then filtered through a pad of celite and the filtrate evaporated in vacuum. The crude reaction mixture was subsequently purified by flash chromatography to yield the desired compound. The compound was then recrystallised from diethylether to yield the final compound 1-049 as a white solid (65 mg, 21%).

B22. Final Compound 4-020

Intermediate compound 3 (100 mg, 0.37 mmol), 4-(3-trifluoromethylbenzyloxy)-piperidine (115.11 mg, 0.444 mmol), K₃PO₄ (150 mg, 0.70 mmol) and catalyst [577971-19-8] CAS (10 mg) were mixed in 1,4-dioxane (5 ml) at room temperature. The corresponding mixture was heated at 85° C. into a sealed tube for 16 hours. The mixture was cooled to room temperature and filtered through a pad of celite. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo and the residue thus obtained was purified by flash chromatography to yield final compound 4-020 as a white gummy solid (90 mg, 55%).

B23. Final Compound 4-044

Intermediate compound 3 (150 mg, 0.406 mmol), 4,4-(phenylpiperidin-4-yl)-morpholine (113.3 mg, 0.46 mmol), K₃PO₄ (200 mg, 0.94 mmol) and catalyst [577971-19-8] CAS (10 mg) were mixed in 1,4-dioxane (4 ml) at room temperature. The corresponding mixture was heated at 85° C. into a sealed tube for 36 hours. The mixture was cooled to room temperature and filtered through a pad of celite. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo and the residue thus obtained was purified by prep. HPLC to yield final compound 4-044 as pale yellow solid (123 mg, 51%).

B24. Final Compound 2-028

Intermediate compound 3 (226 mg, 0.84 mmol), 1-(2-pyrimidyl)piperazine dihydro-chloride (228 mg, 0.96 mmol), K₃PO₄ (612 mg, 2.88 mmol) and catalyst [577971-19-8] CAS (10 mg) were mixed in 1,4-dioxane (5 ml) at room temperature. The corresponding mixture was heated at 85° C. into a sealed tube for 36 hours. The mixture was cooled to room temperature and filtered through a pad of celite. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo and the residue thus obtained was purified by flash chromatography to yield final compound 2-028 as a pale creamy solid (258 mg, 87%).

B25. Final Compound 3-009

A mixture of intermediate compound 20 (0.223 g, 0.00081 mol, 1.1 eq.) and NaH (60% dispersion in mineral oil, 0.035 g, 0.00088 mol, 1.2 eq.) in DME (1.5 ml) was stirred at room temperature over 10 min. Then, intermediate compound 3 (0.20 g, 0.00074 mol, 1 eq.) was added slowly. The resulting reaction mixture was microwaved at 130° C. for 20 min. The mixture was cooled to room temperature and solvents were evaporated in vacuum. The residue was suspended in DCM, filtered off and the filtrate concentrated in vacuo. The crude reaction mixture was then purified by flash chromatography to yield final compound 3-009 (146 mg, 47%).

B26. Final Compound 3-008

To a solution of final compound 3-016 (346 mg, 1.19 mmol) and 3-(trifluoromethyl)benzaldehyde ([454-89-7] CAS) (262 mg, 1.5 mmol) in DCE (40 ml), NaBH(OAc)₃ (760 mg, 3.6 mmol) was added portionwise. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours. Then, the mixture was quenched with an aqueous solution of NH₄Cl. The combined organic layers were concentrated in vacuo. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography to yield final compound 3-008 (370 mg) as a pale brown solid.

B27. Final Compound 1-271

To a mixture of intermediate compound 11 (200 mg, 0.64 mmol), intermediate compound 24 (267 mg, 1.28 mmol) and PPh₃ (309 mg, 1.15 mmol) in THF (5 ml) was added di-tert-butylazodicarboxylate (279 mg, 1.21 mmol). The reaction mixture was microwaved at 120° C. over 20 min. The reaction mixture was then cooled to room temperature and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (eluting with a solvent gradient 10-20% DCM/MeOH(NH₃) to give the final compound 1-271 (219.7 mg, 70%).

B28. Final Compound 3-014

To a solution of final compound 3-018 (191 mg, 0.70 mmol) and 3-(trifluoromethyl)benzaldehyde ([454-89-7] CAS) (174 mg, 1 mmol) in DCE (16 ml), NaBH(OAc)₃ (443 mg, 2.1 mmol) was added portionwise. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours, after which time it was quenched with a saturated solution of NH₄Cl. The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated in vacuo. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography to yield final compound 3-014 as white solid (270 mg, 89%).

B29. Final Compound 2-036

To a mixture of intermediate compound 2 (0.2 g, 0.971 mmol), K₂CO₃ (0.268 g, 1.942 mmol) and NaI (cat.) in acetonitrile (12 ml), 1-(2-chloroethyl)-4-pyridin-2-yl-piperazine (0.393 g, 1.748 mmol) was added. The reaction mixture was microwaved twice at 150° C. for 10 min. Then, DCM was added and the mixture was filtered off. The filtrate was washed with a saturated solution of NaHCO₃. The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (DCM/MeOH(NH₃) mixtures) to give final compound 2-036 (152.5 mg, 40%) as off white solid.

B30. Final Compound 5-007

To a solution of intermediate compound 28 (35 mg, 0.161 mmol) in DCM (6 ml) a drop of TFA was added. Then, N-(methoxymethyl)-N-(trimethylsilylmethyl)-benzylamine (46 mg, 0.193 mmol) was slowly added and the resulting reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. Then, solvents were evaporated in vacuum and the residue was purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, DCM/MeOH(NH₃) mixtures) to yield final compound 1-131 (6 mg, 10%).

B31. Final Compound 2-055

A mixture of intermediate compound 12′ (250 mg, 0.81 mmol), 1-(2-pyridyl)-piperazine (0.129 ml, 0.85 mmol) and diisopropylethylamine (0.416 ml, 2.4 mmol) in acetonitrile (5 ml) was microwaved at 160° C. for 30 min. The mixture was cooled to room temperature and the solvents were evaporated in vacuum. The residue thus obtained was purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, DCM/MeOH mixtures) to yield final compound 2-055 (192 mg, 61%) as a white solid.

B32. Final Compound 5-020

Intermediate compound 3 (0.6 g, 2.20 mmol) and intermediate compound 31 (3.69 g, 3.79 mmol) were mixed in 1,4-dioxane (7 ml) and a saturated solution of Na₂CO₃ (6 ml). The resulting solution was degassed using a stream of nitrogen and to this was added Pd(PPh₃)₄ (0.39 g, 0.33 mmol). The reaction was then microwaved into a sealed tube at 140° C. for 5 min. The resulting reaction mixture was then diluted with AcOEt, filtered through a pad of celite and the filtrate was washed with water (10 ml). The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and evaporated in vacuum. The crude reaction mixture was subsequently purified by flash chromatography to yield the desired compound. The compound was then recrystallised from diethylether to yield the final compound 5-020 (0.39 g, 44%).

B33. Final Compound 4-047

A mixture of intermediate compound 3″ (0.3 g, 1.18 mmol), 4-phenylpiperidine (0.286 g, 1.77 mmol) and diisopropylethylamine (0.615 ml, 3.54 mmol) in acetonitrile (5 ml) was microwaved at 150° C. for 20 min. The mixture was cooled to room temperature and the solvents were evaporated in vacuum. The residue thus obtained was purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, DCM/MeOH(NH₃) mixtures) to yield the desired compound. The compound was then recrystallised from ethylether to yield the final compound 4-047 (0.29 g, 73%)

B34. Final Compound 4-003

A mixture of final compound 5-054 (0.37 g, 1.05 mmol) and palladium (10% on activated carbon) (catalytic amount) in EtOH (10 ml) was stirred under a hydrogen atmosphere at 50 psi for 3 hours. The catalyst was then filtered off and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo. The residue thus obtained was purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, DCM/MeOH(NH₃) mixtures) to yield final compound 4-003 (0.21 g, 57%).

B35. Final Compound 1-306

Intermediate compound 35 (0.25 g, 0.61 mmol) and commercially available 2-bromo-6-methylpyridine (0.158 g, 0.92 mmol) were mixed in 1,4-dioxane (2 ml) and a saturated solution of NaHCO₃ (2 ml). The resulting solution was degassed using a stream of nitrogen and to this was added Pd(PPh₃)₄ (0.10 g, 0.09 mmol). The reaction was then microwaved into a sealed tube at 150° C. for 10 min. The resulting reaction mixture was then filtered through a pad of celite and the filtrate was washed with water (10 ml). The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and evaporated in vacuum. The crude reaction mixture was subsequently purified by flash chromatography to yield final compound 1-306 (0.078 g, 34%).

B36. Final Compound 5-015

To a solution of final compound 5-014 (0.04 g, 0.130 mmol), prepared by the reaction pathway B1, and diisopropylethylamine (0.068 ml, 0.392 mmol) in DCM (2 ml), acetyl chloride (0.014 ml, 0.196 mmol) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 12 hours. Then, the solvents were evaporated in vacuum and the residue thus obtained was purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, DCM/MeOH(NH₃) mixtures) to yield final compound 5-015 (0.045 g, 99%).

B37. Final Compound 1-198

To a solution of intermediate compound 41 (0.082 mg. 0.163 mmol) in DCM (10 ml), TFA (5 ml) was added. The resulting solution was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours. Then, solvent was evaporated in vacuo and the residue was dissolved in DCM, washed with a saturated solution of NaHCO₃ and NaCl. The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated in vacuo The residue was purified by flash chromatography (DCM/MeOH(NH₃) mixtures) to give final compound 1-198 (17 mg, 26%) as a white solid.

B38. Final Compound 1-185

To a mixture of final compound 1-308 (0.2 g, 0.533 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (10 ml), N-methyl-2-methoxyethylamine (0.0711 mg, 0.8 mmol), Paladium diacetate (0.0118 mg, 0.053 mmol) and Xantphos (0.0616 mg, 0.8 mmol) were added. The reaction mixture was stirred in a sealed tube at 120° C. for 16 hours. The resulting reaction mixture was then filtered through a pad of celite, washed with AcOEt. The filtrate was washed with a saturated solution of NaCl. The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (DCM/MeOH 9:1) to give final compound 1-185 (24 mg, 12%) as a yellow solid.

B39. Final Compound 1-226

To a solution of final compound 1-224 (0.147 mg, 0.385 mmol) in DCM (20 ml) at 0° C., BBr₃ (0.182 ml, 1.92 mmol) was added. The resulting solution was warmed up to room temperature and stirred for 16 hours. Then, an aqueous solution of NH₄OH was added. The resulting aqueous solution was extracted with methylenchlorine, washed with a saturated solution of NaCl. The combined organic layers were dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated in vacuo The residue was purified by flash chromatography (DCM/MeOH(NH₃) 9:1) to give final compound 1-226 (28 mg, 20%) as yellow solid.

B40. Final Compound 5-052

The reaction was carried out under N₂ atmosphere. Intermediate compound 4 (26 mg, 0.077 mmol) was dissolved in pyridine (1 ml, 12.26 mmol). The resulting solution was heated for 1 hour at 40° C. The mixture was cooled to room temperature and solvents were evaporated in vacuum. The residue thus obtained was treated with 1,4-dioxane to yield a white solid that was filtered off, dried in vacuum and identified as final compound 5-052 (25 mg; white solid).

B41. Final Compound 2-056

A solution of intermediate compound 14 (200 mg, 0.53 mmol) in a mixture of TFA/DCM (20%) (5 ml) was stirred overnight at room temperature. The mixture was basified by the addition of K₂CO₃ (saturated solution). The organic layer was then dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was identified as final compound 2-056 (150 mg) and was used in the next reaction step without further purification.

B42. Final Compound 3-015

To a mixture of 1-tert-butoxycarbonyl-4-hydroxypiperidine (447 mg, 2.22 mmol) in DME (8 ml), NaH (60% in mineral oil) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 5 min. Then, intermediate compound 3 (500 mg, 1.85 mmol) was added and the resulting reaction mixture was microwaved at 130° C. for 30 min. The reaction was then cooled to room temperature and filtered off. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to yield final compound 3-015 as brown oil (460 mg).

B43. Final Compound 3-016

To a solution of final compound 3-015 (460 mg, 1.18 mmol) in MeOH (50 ml), amberlyst-15 polymer bound (loading 4.6 mmol/g) (0.77 g, 3.54 mmol) was added. The resulting mixture was shaken at room temperature for 12 hours. Then, the resin was filtered off and the solvent was discarded. The resin was suspended in MeOH/NH₃ (50 ml) and shaken at room temperature for 3 hours. The resin was filtered off and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to give the final compound 3-016 (350 mg) as a pale brown solid.

B44. Final Compound 5-053

A mixture of intermediate compound 3 (1 g, 3.71 mmol), (N-tert-butoxycarbonyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-4-boronic acid pinacol ester (1.26 g, 4.08 mmol) and Pd(PPh₃)₄ (0.642 g, 0.556 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (6 ml) and a saturated solution of Na—HCO₃ (6 ml) was microwaved at 150° C. for 10 min. The resulting reaction mixture was then filtered through a pad of celite and the filtrate evaporated in vacuum. The crude reaction mixture was subsequently purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, DCM/MeOH(NH₃) mixtures) to yield final compound 5-053 (0.57 g, 41%) as a white solid.

B45. Final Compound 3-017

A mixture of final compound 5-053 (530 mg, 1.42 mmol) and palladium (10% on activated carbon) (catalytic amount) in AcOEt (50 ml) was stirred under a hydrogen atmosphere at 50 psi for 4 hours. The catalyst was then filtered off and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to give final compound 3-017 as colorless oil (540 mg, quant.). The compound thus obtained was used in the next reaction steps without further purification.

B46. Final Compound 3-018

To a solution of final compound 3-017 (540 mg, 1.44 mmol) in MeOH (50 ml), amberlyst-15 (loading 4.6 mmol/g) (1 g, 4.6 mmol) was added. The resulting mixture was shaken at room temperature for 12 hours. Then, the resin was filtered off and the solvent was discarded. The resin was suspended in MeOH/NH₃ (50 ml) and shaken at room temperature for 3 hours. The resin was filtered off and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to yield final compound 3-018 (198 mg) as yellow oil.

B47. Final Compound 5-054

A mixture of intermediate compound 3′ (0.34 g, 1.33 mmol), intermediate compound 33 (0.5 g, 1.73 mmol) and diisopropylethylamine (0.925 ml, 5.32 mmol) in acetonitrile (3 ml) was microwaved at 150° C. for 20 min. The mixture was cooled to room temperature and the solvents were evaporated in vacuum. The residue thus obtained was purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, DCM/MeOH(NH₃) mixtures) to yield final compound 5-054 (0.37 g, 79%).

B48. Final Compound 1-307

To a solution of intermediate compound 36 (0.55 mg. 1.76 mmol) in DCM (20 ml), TFA (10 ml) was added. The resulting solution was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. Then, solvent was evaporated in vacuo and the residue was dissolved in DCM, washed with a saturated solution of NaHCO₃ and NaCl. The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated in vacuo to yield final compound 1-307 (0.310 g, 74%) used in the next reaction step without further purification.

B49. Final Compound 1-308

To a suspension of copper (II) bromide (0.2 g, 0.89 mmol) and tert-butylnitrite (0.178 ml, 1.48 mmol) in acetonitrile (29 ml) at 0° C. was added dropwise final compound 1-307 (0.31 g, 0.99 mmol) within 5 min at 0° C. The mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 1 hour, then warmed to room temperature and gradually heated at 65° C. for 1 hour. The resulting reaction mixture was then filtered through a pad of celite, washed with acetonitrile and the filtrate evaporated in vacuum to yield final compound 1-308 (0.464 g) used in the next reaction step without further purification.

B50. Final Compound 1-190

Intermediate compound 43 (0.30 g, 1.11 mmol) and intermediate compound 3 (0.43 g, 1.33 mmol) were mixed in 1,4-dioxane (3 ml) and a saturated solution of Na₂CO₃ (3 ml). The resulting solution was degassed using a stream of nitrogen and to this was added Pd(PPh₃)₄ (0.12 g, 0.1 mmol). The reaction was then microwaved into a sealed tube at 150° C. for 10 min. The resulting reaction mixture was then filtered through a pad of celite and washed with AcOEt. The filtrate was washed with brine. The combined organic layers were dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated in vacuo. The residue thus obtained was purified by prep. HPLC to yield final compound 1-190 (0.04 g, 9%).

B51. Final Compound 1-064

Intermediate compound 3 (0.48 g, 1.89 mmol) and intermediate compound 45 (0.59 g, 1.89 mmol) were mixed in 1,4-dioxane (4 ml) and a saturated solution of NaHCO₃ (4 ml). The resulting solution was degassed using a stream of nitrogen and to this was added Pd(PPh₃)₄ (0.22 g, 0.19 mmol). The reaction was then microwaved into a sealed tube at 150° C. for 10 min. The resulting reaction mixture was then filtered through a pad of celite and washed with AcOEt. The filtrate was washed with brine. The combined organic layers were dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated in vacuo. The residue thus obtained was purified by flash chromatography (DCM/MeOH mixtures) to yield final compound 1-064 (0.16 g, 25%).

The final compounds in the following Tables have been synthesised according to the previous examples, as denoted in the column denoted as “Exp. Nr”. The compound denoted with the asterisk has been exemplified in the Examples.

TABLE 1A Compounds wherein L is a covalent bond.

Co. nr. Exp nr. V¹ M¹

1-001 B2 cb

1-002 B2 cb

1-003 B1

1-004 B3

1-005 B3

1-006 B3

1-007 B1

1-008 B2

1-009 B2

1-010 B1

1-011 B1

1-012 B1

1-013 B1

1-014 B1

1-015 B2

1-016 B1

1-017 B1

1-018 B2

1-019 B2

1-020 B2

1-021 B1

1-022 B1

1-023 B2

1-024 B1

1-025 B1

1-026 B1

1-027 B1

1-028 B2

1-029 B2

1-030 B1

1-031 B1

1-032 B1

1-033 B1

1-034 B1

1-035 B1

1-036 B1

1-037 B17*

1-038 B1

1-039 B1

1-040 B1

1-041 B1

1-042 B1

1-043 B2

1-044 B1

1-045 B1

1-046 B2

1-047 B2

1-048 B1

1-049 B21*

1-050 B2

1-051 B2

1-052 B2

1-053 B1

1-054 B2

1-055 B1

1-056 B3

1-057 B3

1-058 B1

1-059 B2

1-060 B1

1-061 B3

1-062 B3

1-063 B1

1-064 B51*

1-065 B3

1-066 B3

1-067 B3

1-068 B3

1-069 B29

1-070 B3

1-071 B3

1-072 B3

1-073 B3

1-074 B3

1-075 B3

1-076 B3

1-077 B2

1-078 B3

1-079 B2

1-080 B2

1-081 B2

1-082 B2

1-083 B1

1-084 B2

1-085 B1

1-086 B1

1-087 B1

1-088 B1

1-089 B1

1-090 B1

1-091 B1

1-092 B1

1-093 B1

1-094 B1

1-095 B4*

1-096 B2

1-097 B7*

1-098 B1

1-099 B37

1-100 B1

1-101 B1

1-102 B2

1-103 B5*

1-104 B1

1-105 B1

1-106 B1

1-107 B1

1-108 B1

1-109 B1

1-110 B1*

1-111 B1

1-112 B1

1-113 B2

1-114 B3*

1-115 B1

1-116 B1

1-308 B49*

1-117 B1

1-118 B2

1-119 B1

1-120 B1

1-121 B1

1-122 B1

1-123 B1

1-124 B1

1-125 B3

1-126 B1

1-127 B1

1-128 B1

1-129 B1

1-130 B2

1-131 B1

1-132 B1

1-133 B1

1-134 B1

1-135 B1

1-136 B1

1-137 B3

1-138 B3

1-139 B1

1-140 B1

1-141 B1

1-142 B1

1-143 B1

1-144 B29

1-145 B29

1-146 B29

1-147 B29

1-148 B29

1-149 B29

1-150 B29

1-151 B29

1-152 B1

1-153 B29

1-154 B1

1-155 B3

1-156 B1

1-157 B1

1-158 B1

1-159 B1

1-160 B1

1-161 B3

1-162 B29

1-163 B29

1-164 B29

1-165 B29

1-166 B1

1-167 B1

1-168 B1

1-169 B29

1-170 B1

1-305 B37

1-171 B1

1-172 B1

1-173 B1

1-174 B37

1-307 B48*

1-175 B1

1-176 B1

1-177 B1

1-178 B6*

1-179 B2*

1-180 B1

1-181 B1

1-182 B12*

1-183 B1

1-184 B1

1-185 B38*

1-186 B3

1-187 B1

1-188 B1

1-189 B3

1-190 B50*

1-191 B3

1-192 B1

1-193 B3

1-194 B3

1-195 B3

1-196 B3

1-197 B1

1-198 B37*

1-199 B1

1-200 B1

1-201 B1

1-202 B1

1-203 B1

1-204 B1

1-205 B3

1-206 B1

1-207 B1

1-208 B1

1-209 B1

1-210 B1

1-211 B28

1-212 B29

1-213 B1

1-214 B2

1-215 B1

1-216 B1

1-217 B3

1-218 B1

1-219 B1

1-220 B9

1-221 B1

1-222 B1

1-223 B20*

1-224 B1

1-225 B1

1-226 B39*

1-227 B1

1-228 B3

1-229 B1

1-230 B1

1-231 B38

1-232 B1

1-233 B3

1-234 B3

1-235 B1

1-236 B1

1-237 B1

1-238 B2

1-239 B14*

1-240 B15*

1-241 B1

1-242 B3

1-243 B1

1-244 B3

1-245 B1

1-246 B1

1-247 B3

1-248 B1

1-249 B1

1-250 B19*

1-251 B1

1-252 B1

1-253 B1

1-254 B1

1-255 B1

1-256 B1

1-257 B1

1-258 B13*

1-259 B1

TABLE 1B Compounds wherein L is a saturated or unsaturated alkyl chain.

Co. nr. Exp nr. V¹ M¹

1-260  B11*

1-261 B11

1-262 B11

1-263 B11

1-264 B11

1-265 B11

1-266 B11

1-267  B10*

1-268 B10

1-269 B10

1-270 B10

TABLE 1C Compounds wherein L contains an O-atom.

Co. nr. Exp nr. V¹ M¹

1-271  B27*

1-272 B29

1-273 B8 

1-306  B35*

1-274 B8*

1-275 B29

1-276 B29

1-277 B29

1-278 B29

1-279 B29

1-280 B29

1-281 B29

1-282 B8 

1-283 B29

1-284 B29

1-285 B29

1-286 B29

1-287 B29

1-288 B27

1-289 B29

1-290 B29

1-291 B8 

1-292 B27

1-293 B29

TABLE 1D Compounds wherein L contains a N-atom.

Co. nr. Exp nr. V¹ M¹

1-294 B31

racemic mixture - TRANS 1-295 B29

1-296 B29

1-297 B31

racemic mixture - TRANS 1-298 B9*

1-299 B9 

1-300 B9 

1-301 B9 

1-302 B9 

1-303 B9 

1-304 B9 

racemic mixture - TRANS

TABLE 2 Compounds prepared according to the Examples wherein A is piperazinyl.

Co. nr. Exp nr.

2-001 B28

cb

2-002 B18

cb

2-003 B28

cb

2-004 B33

cb

2-005 B33

cb

2-006 B33

cb

2-007 B33

cb

2-008 B33

cb

2-009 B33

cb

2-010 B18

cb

2-056  B41*

cb — 2-011 B23

cb

2-012 B23

cb

2-013 B33

cb

2-014 B33

cb

2-015 B23

cb

2-016 B33

cb

2-017 B33

cb

2-018 B33

cb

2-019 B33

cb

2-020 B33

cb

2-021 B33

cb

2-022 B33

cb

2-023 B23

cb

2-024 B23

cb

2-025 B23

cb

2-026 B23

cb

2-027 B23

cb

2-028  B24*

cb

2-029 B23

cb

2-030 B23

cb

2-031 B23

cb

2-032 B23

cb

2-033 B23

cb

2-034 B23

cb

2-035 B23

cb

2-036  B29*

2-037 B33

2-038 B28

cb

2-039 B28

cb

2-040 B28

cb

2-041 B33

cb

2-042 B23

cb

2-043  B16*

cb

2044 B23

cb

2-045 B33

cb

2-046 B18

cb

2047 B23

cb

2-048 B23

cb

2-049  B18*

cb

2-050 B18

cb

2-051 B18

cb

2-052 B18

cb

2-055  B31*

cb

2-053 B18

cb

2-054 B18

cb

TABLE 3 Compounds prepared according to the Examples wherein A is 4-piperidinyl.

Co. nr. Exp nr.

3-001 B10

cb

3-002 B18

3-018  B46*

cb — 3-017  B45*

cb

3-014  B28*

cb

3-003 B23

3-004 B18

3-005 B23

3-006 B23

3-016  B43*

— 3-007 B25

3-015  B42*

3-008  B26*

3-009  B25*

3-010 B18

3-011 B33

3-012 B18

3-013 B23

TABLE 4 Compounds prepared according to the Examples wherein A is 1-piperidinyl.

Co. nr. Exp nr.

4-001 B10

cb

4-002 B10

cb

4-003  B34*

cb

4-004 B27

cb

4-005 B25

cb

4-006 B33

cb

4-007 B27

cb

4-008 B27

cb

4-009 B33

cb

4-010 B23

cb

4-012 B33

cb

4-013 B33

cb

4-014 B33

cb

4-015 B33

cb

4-016 B33

cb

4-017 B33

cb

4-018 B33

cb

4-019 B33

cb

4-020  B22*

cb

4-021 B33

cb

4-022 B33

cb

4-023 B23

cb

4-024 B23

cb

4-025 B23

cb

4-026 B23

cb

4-027 B23

cb

4-028 B23

cb

4-029 B23

cb

4-030 B23

cb

4-031 B23

cb

4-032 B23

cb

4-033 B23

cb

4-034 B23

cb

4-035 B23

cb

4-036 B23

cb

4-037 B23

cb

4-038 B23

cb

4-039 B23

cb

4-040 B23

cb

4-041 B23

cb

4-042 B25

cb

4-043 B23

cb

4-044  B23*

cb

4-045 B33

cb

4-046 B33

cb

4-047  B33*

cb

4-048 B33

cb

4-049 B23

cb

4-050 B23

cb

4-051 B23

cb

4-052 B25

cb

4-053 B33

cb

4-054 B33

cb

4-055 B37

cb

4-056 B23

cb

4-057 B26

cb

4-058 B23

cb

4-059 B26

cb

4-060 B26

cb

4-061 B23

cb

4-062 B33

cb

4-063 B33

cb

4-064 B23

cb

4-065 B23

cb

4-066 B33

cb

TABLE 5 Other compounds prepared according to the Examples wherein A is a N-containing heterocycle

Co. nr. Exp nr.

5-054  B47*

cb

5-023 B1 

cb

5-001 B11

cb

5-002 B1 

cb

5-003 B23

cb

— 5-004 B33

cb

5-005 B33

cb

5-006 B33

cb

 5-007* B30

cb

5-008 B23

cb

5-009 B33

cb

5-053  B44*

cb

5-052  B40*

cb

— trifluoromethylsulfonic acid (salt form) 5-010 B1

cb

5-011 B1 

cb

5-012 B1 

cb

— 5-013 B1 

cb

5-014 B1 

cb

— 5-015  B36*

cb

5-016 B1 

cb

— 5-017 B1 

cb

— 5-018 B1 

cb

5-019 B1 

cb

5-020 B32

cb

5-021 B1 

cb

— 5-022 B1 

cb

— 5-024 B1 

cb

5-025 B1 

cb

5-026 B1 

cb

5-027 B1 

cb

5-028 B1 

cb

5-029 B23

cb

— 5-030 B23

cb

— 5-031 B23

cb

— 5-032 B23

cb

5-033 B23

cb

— 5-034 B33

cb

5-035 B33

cb

5-036 B33

cb

— 5-037 B33

cb

— 5-038 B33

cb

5-039 B33

cb

— 5-040 B33

cb

5-041 B33

cb

— 5-042 B33

cb

5-043 B33

cb

5-044 B33

cb

5-045 B1 

5-046 B29

5-047 B1 

5-048 B33

5-049 B10

— 5-050 B33

cb

5-051 B1 

cb

—

^(a) is the side with the R⁴ moiety; ^(b) is the side with the L moiety

TABLE 6 Compounds prepared according to the Examples wherein R² is not hydrogen.

Co. nr. Exp. nr. V¹ M¹ R²

6-001 B1

C. Physico-Chemical Data

LCMS—Methods:

LCMS—General Procedure A

The HPLC gradient was supplied by a Alliance 2795XE comprising a quaternary pump with degasser, an autosampler, a column oven, a photo diode-array detector (PDA 2996) and a column as specified in the respective methods below. Flow from the column was split to a MS detector. MS detectors were configured with electrospray ionization source. Nitrogen was used as the nebulizer gas. Mass spectra were acquired from 50 to 600 in 0.5 seconds. The capillary needle voltage was 3.5 kV and the source temperature was maintained at 140° C. Data acquisition was performed with a Waters-Micromass MassLynx-Openlynx data system.

LCMS—General Procedure B

The HPLC gradient was supplied by a HP 1100 from Agilent Technologies comprising a pump (quaternary or binary) with degasser, an autosampler, a column oven, a diode-array detector (DAD) and a column as specified in the respective methods below. Flow from the column was split to a MS detector. The MS detector was configured with an electrospray ionization source. Nitrogen was used as the nebulizer gas. The source temperature was maintained at 140° C. Data acquisition was performed with MassLynx-Openlynx software.

LCMS—General Procedure C

The LC gradient was supplied by an Acquity HPLC (Waters) system comprising a binary pump, a sample organizer, a column heater (set at 55° C.) and diode-array detector (DAD). Flow from the column was split to a MS detector. The MS detector was configured with an electrospray ionization source. Mass spectra were acquired by scanning from 100 to 1000 in 0.18 seconds using a dwell time of 0.02 seconds. The capillary needle voltage was 3.5 kV and the source temperature was maintained at 140° C. Nitrogen was used as the nebulizer gas. Data acquisition was performed with a Waters-Micromass MassLynx-Openlynx data system.

Method 1

In addition to general procedure A: Reversed phase HPLC was carried out on an Zorbax-C18 cartridge (3.5 μm, 4.6×50 mm) from Agilent Technologies, with a flow rate of 1 ml/min. The column oven was set at 25° C. Two mobile phases (mobile phase A: water+0.5% of formic acid; mobile phase B: acetonitrile+0.5% of formic acid) were used. First, 95% A and 5% B was hold for 0.1 minutes. Then a gradient was applied to 100% B at 5 minutes, kept till 6.0 minutes and equilibrated to initial conditions at 6.5 minutes until 7.0 minutes. Typical injection volumes of 5-20 μl, were used. ES MS detector was used, acquiring both in positive and negative ionization modes. Cone voltage was 30 V for positive and 63 V for negative ionization mode.

Method 2

In addition to general procedure A: Reversed phase HPLC was carried out on an Zorbax-C18 cartridge (1.8 μm, 4.6×30 mm) from Agilent Technologies, with a flow rate of 1.5 ml/min. The column oven was set at 30° C. Two mobile phases (mobile phase A: water+0.05% of formic acid; mobile phase B: acetonitrile+0.05% of formic acid) were used. The gradient conditions used are: 90% A and 10% B to 100% B at 3.5 minutes, kept till 3.7 minutes and equilibrated to initial conditions at 3.8 minutes until 4.5 minutes. Typical injection volumes of 5-20 μl, were used. ES MS detector was used, acquiring both in positive and negative ionization modes. Cone voltage was 30 V for positive and 63 V for negative ionization mode.

Method 3

In addition to general procedure B: Reversed phase HPLC was carried out on an ACE-C18 column (3.0 μm, 4.6×30 mm) from Advanced Chromatography Technologies, with a flow rate of 1.5 ml/min, at 40° C. The gradient conditions used are: 80% A (0.5 g/l ammonium acetate solution), 10% B (acetonitrile), 10% C (methanol) to 50% B and 50% C in 6.5 minutes, to 100% B at 7 minutes and equilibrated to initial conditions at 7.5 minutes until 9.0 minutes. Injection volume 54 High-resolution mass spectra (Time of Flight, TOF) were acquired only in positive ionization mode by scanning from 100 to 750 in 0.5 seconds using a dwell time of 0.1 seconds. The capillary needle voltage was 2.5 kV for positive ionization mode and the cone voltage was 20 V. Leucine-Enkephaline was the standard substance used for the lock mass calibration.

Method 4

In addition to general procedure B: Same as Method 3, but using 10 μL of injection volume.

Method 5

In addition to general procedure B: Reversed phase HPLC was carried out on an ACE-C18 column (3.0 μm, 4.6×30 mm) from Advanced Chromatography Technologies, with a flow rate of 1.5 ml/min, at 40° C. The gradient conditions used are: 80% A (0.5 g/l ammonium acetate solution), 10% B (acetonitrile), 10% C (methanol) to 50% B and 50% C in 6.5 minutes, to 100% B at 7 minutes and equilibrated to initial conditions at 7.5 minutes until 9.0 minutes. Injection volume 5 μl. Low-resolution mass spectra (ZQ detector; quadrupole) were acquired by scanning from 100 to 1000 in 1.0 second using a dwell time of 0.3 seconds. The capillary needle voltage was 3 kV. The cone voltage was 20 V and 50 V for positive ionization mode and 20 V for negative ionization mode.

Method 6

In addition to general procedure C: Reversed phase HPLC was carried out on a bridged ethylsiloxane/silica (BEH) C18 column (1.7 μm, 2.1×50 mm) with a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min. Two mobile phases (mobile phase A: 0.1% formic acid in H₂O/methanol 95/5; mobile phase B: methanol) were used to run a gradient condition from 95% A to 5% A, 95% B in 1.3 minutes and hold for 0.2 minutes. An injection volume of 0.5 was used. Cone voltage was 10 V for positive ionization mode and 20 V for negative ionization mode.

Method 7

In addition to general procedure B: Reversed phase HPLC was carried out on an XDB-C18 cartridge (1.8 μm, 2.1×30 mm) from Agilent, at 60° C. with a flow rate of 1 ml/min, at 60° C. The gradient conditions used are: 90% A (0.5 g/l ammonium acetate solution), 5% B (acetonitrile), 5% C (methanol) to 50% B and 50% C in 6.5 minutes, to 100% B at 7 minutes and equilibrated to initial conditions at 7.5 minutes until 9.0 minutes. Injection volume 2 μl. High-resolution mass spectra (Time of Flight, TOF) were acquired only in positive ionization mode by scanning from 100 to 750 in 0.5 seconds using a dwell time of 0.1 seconds. The capillary needle voltage was 2.5 kV and the cone voltage was 20 V. Leucine-Enkephaline was the standard substance used for the lock mass calibration.

Method 8

In addition to general procedure B: Reversed phase HPLC was carried out on a XDB-C18 cartridge (1.8 μm, 4.6×30 mm) from Agilent, with a flow rate of 1.5 ml/min, at 60° C. The gradient conditions used are: 80% A (0.5 g/l ammonium acetate solution), 20% B (mixture of Acetonitrile/Methanol, 1/1) to 100% B in 6.5 minutes, kept till 7 minutes and equilibrated to initial conditions at 7.5 minutes until 9.0 minutes. Injection volume 5 μl. Low-resolution mass spectra (ZQ detector; quadrupole) were acquired by scanning from 100 to 1000 in 1.0 second using a dwell time of 0.3 second. The capillary needle voltage was 3 kV. The cone voltage was 20 V and 50 V for positive ionization mode and 20 V for negative ionization mode.

Method 9

In addition to general procedure B: Reversed phase HPLC was carried out on an ACE-C18 column (3.0 4.6×30 mm) from Advanced Chromatography Technologies, with a flow rate of 1.5 ml/min, at 40° C. The gradient conditions used are: 80% A (0.5 g/l ammonium acetate solution), 10% B (acetonitrile), 10% C (methanol) to 50% B and 50% C in 6.5 minutes, to 100% B at 7 minutes and equilibrated to initial conditions at 7.5 minutes until 9.0 minutes. Injection volume 5 μl. High-resolution mass spectra (Time of Flight, TOF) were acquired by scanning from 100 to 750 in 0.5 seconds using a dwell time of 0.3 seconds. The capillary needle voltage was 2.5 kV for positive ionization mode and 2.9 kV for negative ionization mode. The cone voltage was 20 V for both positive and negative ionization modes. Leucine-Enkephaline was the standard substance used for the lock mass calibration.

Melting point determination was performed in open capillary tubes either on a Buchi B-540 or Mettler FP62.

TABLE 7 Physico-chemical data for the compounds. For salt forms, the [MH+] of the free base was reported. Melting point RT LCMS Co. Nr (° C.) [MH⁺] (min) Method Physical form 1-003 339 4.38 Method 3 White solid 1-004 378 4.00 Method 3 White solid 1-005 413 4.54 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 1-006 427 4.43 Method 8 Pale yellow solid 1-007 159 363 2.92 Method 2 Light yellow solid 1-008 148 299 4.59 Method 1 White solid 1-009 149 293 4.43 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-010 decomposes 336 5.00 Method 5 Yellow solid 1-011  60 323 4.43 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-012 decomposes 323 4.55 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-013 128 337 2.95 Method 2 White solid 1-014 143 391 3.22 Method 2 Yellow solid 1-015 307 Method 1 Solid 1-016 331 2.56 Method 2 Light yellow solid 1-017 331 2.60 Method 2 Light brown solid 1-018 155 291 4.19 Method 1 Yellow solid 1-019 118 307 4.45 Method 1 White solid 1-021 331 2.59 Method 2 Light yellow solid 1-022 335 3.92 Method 3 Light brown solid 1-023 295 1.15 Method 6 Beige solid 1-024 181 385 2.70 Method 2 Light yellow solid 1-025 397 4.92 Method 3 Light brown solid 1-026 351 2.62 Method 2 White solid 1-027 351 2.63 Method 2 Light yellow solid 1-028 180 327 4.54 Method 1 Pink solid 1-030 153 371 2.76 Method 2 White solid 1-031 167 468 4.62 Method 3 White solid 1-032 190 456 2.70 Method 2 Yellow solid 1-033  97 470 4.47 Method 3 White solid 1-034 498 4.53 Method 8 White solid 1-035 136 498 4.52 Method 8 White solid 1-036 498 5.19 Method 3 White solid 1-037 184 500 4.47 Method 3 White solid 1-038 140 514 4.64 Method 3 White solid 1-039 169 401 2.78 Method 2 White solid 1-040 180 429 2.47 Method 2 White solid 1-041 155 463 3.17 Method 2 Beige solid 1-042 185 363 2.90 Method 2 White solid 1-043 185 288 2.71 Method 1 Beige solid 1-044 141 288 3.34 Method 1 White solid 1-045 160 288 2.81 Method 1 Solid 1-046 185 362 3.96 Method 1 White solid 1-047 317 4.09 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 1-048 188 347 4.20 Method 4 White solid 1-049 decomposes 409 5.13 Method 3 White solid 1-050 135 245 3.85 Method 1 Yellow solid 1-051 305 4.29 Method 1 Yellow solid 1-052 118 321 4.40 Method 1 Yellow solid 1-053 decomposes 315 4.25 Method 3 White solid 1-055 123 337 2.73 Method 2 White solid 1-056 195 352 3.64 Method 7 Bright yellow solid 1-057 136 371 4.04 Method 3 White solid 1-058 122 336 4.72 Method 7 Yellow solid 1-059 103 259 4.18 Method 1 Yellow solid 1-060 347 3.00 Method 3 Pale brown solid 1-061 346 3.93 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 1-062 346 3.61 Method 7 White solid 1-063 102 374 4.16 Method 3 White solid 1-064 121 360 3.97 Method 7 White solid 1-065 360 4.22 Method 7 White solid 1-066 364 3.79 Method 3 White solid 1-067 414 4.68 Method 7 White solid 1-068 decomposes 414 4.67 Method 7 Off white solid 1-069 414 4.40 Method 7 Off white solid 1-070 380 4.10 Method 7 Off white solid 1-071 371 3.86 Method 7 White solid 1-072 371 3.90 Method 7 White solid 1-073 431 4.32 Method 3 Off white solid 1-074 347 3.32 Method 7 White solid 1-075 347 3.36 Method 7 White solid 1-076 347 3.55 Method 7 White solid 1-077 108 259 3.92 Method 1 Beige solid 1-078 170 346 3.06 Method 8 White solid 1-079 103 273 4.22 Method 1 White solid 1-080 149 267 4.45 Method 1 White solid 1-081 257 4.13 Method 1 Yellow solid 1-082 123 273 4.29 Method 1 Yellow solid 1-083 307 4.66 Method 4 Yellow solid 1-084 142 267 4.25 Method 1 White solid 1-085 102 281 2.72 Method 2 White solid 1-086 168 323 3.16 Method 2 Orange solid 1-087 125 285 3.97 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 1-088 161 285 4.09 Method 4 White solid 1-089 decomposes 285 4.07 Method 3 White solid 1-090 123 301 2.74 Method 2 White solid 1-091 137 301 2.76 Method 2 Yellow solid 1-092 423 5.01 Method 3 White solid 1-093 172 343 3.05 Method 2 Off white solid 1-094 131 343 3.03 Method 2 Light yellow solid 1-095  85 325 3.76 Method 1 White solid 1-096 201 283 3.72 Method 1 Light brown solid 1-097 210 283 3.66 Method 1 White solid 1-098 145 297 2.04 Method 2 White solid 1-099 327 3.35 Method 3 Beige solid 1-100 297 4.11 Method 5 Yellow oil 1-101  96 297 4.31 Method 1 White solid 1-102  99 270 4.07 Method 1 Light yellow solid 1-103  91 311 4.22 Method 1 White solid 1-104 311 4.52 Method 3 Cream solid 1-105 107 325 2.96 Method 2 Light orange solid 1-106 339 4.54 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 1-107  67 311 2.51 Method 2 Light yellow solid 1-108 313 3.51 Method 3 Cream solid 1-109 357 3.35 Method 3 White solid 1-110  52 327 4.03 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-111 129 325 2.89 Method 2 Light yellow solid 1-112 149 331 4.33 Method 7 White solid 1-113  65 315 4.35 Method 1 White solid 1-114 133 315 4.30 Method 1 Yellow solid 1-115 154 357 3.06 Method 2 White solid 1-116 333 2.69 Method 2 White oil 1-117 166 359 5.21 Method 5 White solid 1-118 decomposes 339 3.68 Method 3 White solid 1-119 decomposes 333 4.39 Method 5 Cream solid 1-120 122 351 4.74 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-121 363 4.67 Method 3 White solid 1-122 131 381 4.61 Method 3 White solid 1-123 189 399 4.92 Method 3 White solid 1-124 385 5.88 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 1-125 355 4.00 Method 3 White solid 1-126 decomposes 353 4.08 Method 5 Cream solid 1-127 156 354 3.52 Method 1 White solid 1-128 107 368 2.05 Method 1 White solid 1-129 384 3.23 Method 3 Cream solid 1-130 159 340 3.06 Method 3 White Solid 1-131 132 322 2.42 Method 2 Pink solid 1-132 336 3.98 Method 3 White solid 1-133 337 4.72 Method 7 White solid 1-134 294 371 5.40 Method 3 Cream solid 1-135 351 5.33 Method 4 White solid 1-136 397 4.64 Method 5 Cream solid 1-137 411 4.78 Method 3 White solid 1-138 441 4.70 Method 3 Cream solid 1-139 396 3.95 Method 3 Pale brown solid 1-140 359 5.13 Method 3 White solid 1-141 373 5.38 Method 3 White solid 1-142 403 5.01 Method 3 White solid 1-143 118 389 3.07 Method 2 White solid 1-144 100 403 3.03 Method 2 White solid 1-145 212 403 3.02 Method 2 White solid 1-146 139 391 3.07 Method 2 Whitesolid 1-147 146 391 3.07 Method 2 White solid 1-148 173 391 3.06 Method 2 Yellow solid 1-149 120 407 3.23 Method 2 White solid 1-150 177 407 3.18 Method 2 White solid 1-151 154 398 2.89 Method 2 White solid 1-152 193 384 2.86 Method 2 White solid 1-153 171 398 2.89 Method 2 Yellow solid 1-154 360 4.23 Method 3 White solid 1-155 132 360 4.07 Method 7 Off white solid 1-156 139 360 4.09 Method 3 Off white solid 1-157 162 374 4.36 Method 5 White solid 1-158 142 374 4.23 Method 5 Cream solid 1-159 171 374 4.25 Method 5 White solid 1-160 374 4.18 Method 3 Cream solid 1-161 378 4.17 Method 3 White solid 1-162 156 392 4.21 Method 3 Pale brown solid 1-163 202 442 2.94 Method 2 White solid 1-164 165 408 2.82 Method 2 White solid 1-165 408 2.15 Method 2 White solid 1-166 404 4.05 Method 3 Cream solid 1-167 404 4.05 Method 3 White solid 1-168 decomposes 364 3.27 Method 5 Freeze-dried 1-169 144 3.94 2.62 Method 2 Beige solid 1-170 282 3.10 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-171 189 296 3.97 Method 3 Bright yellow solid 1-172 137 310 4.51 Method 1 Green solid 1-173 130 324 1.81 Method 2 Grey solid 1-174 340 4.02 Method 9 Yellow solid 1-175  75 324 3.54 Method 1 Brown solid 1-176 198 324 3.55 Method 1 White solid 1-177 112 352 2.13 Method 2 White solid 1-178 157 338 3.39 Method 1 Beige solid 1-179 144 338 3.39 Method 1 White solid 1-180 Yellow solid 1-181 decomposes 353 2.79 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 1-182 367 3.31 Method 3 Bright yellow solid 1-183 354 5.04 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 1-184 368 3.30 Method 3 White solid 1-185 384 4.45 Method 4 Yellow solid 1-186 269 321 3.47 Method 3 Pale brown solid 1-187 322 4.52 Method 3 Yellow 1-188 364 5.66 Method 3 Bright yellow solid 1-189 384 4.22 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-190 384 4.21 Method 7 Yellow solid 1-191 decomposes 400 4.48 Method 7 Pale yellow solid 1-192 119 Bright yellow solid 1-193 358 5.21 Method 3 Brown solid 1-194 372 5.17 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-195 372 5.35 Method 3 Bright yellow oil 1-196 386 5.33 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-197 418 5.47 Method 3 White solid 1-198 404 4.71 Method 3 White solid 1-199 136 390 2.93 Method 2 Yellow solid 1-200 162 390 2.94 Method 2 Yellow solid 1-201 342 3.35 Method 3 Cream solid 1-202 146 406 3.07 Method 2 Yellow solid 1-203 173 402 2.90 Method 2 Yellow solid 1-204 157 397 2.75 Method 2 Yellow solid 1-205 456 5.69 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-206 209 397 2.74 Method 2 Yellow solid 1-207 379 2.68 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-208 359 3.35 Method 7 Pale yellow solid 1-209 373 4.08 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-210  73 373 4.01 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-211 142 401 4.53 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 1-212 294 401 4.44 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 1-213  96 401 1.61 Method 2 White solid 1-214 326 4.26 Method 3 Brown solid 1-215  70 360 3.70 Method 1 White solid 1-216 191 360 3.67 Method 1 White solid 1-217 414 3.49 Method 7 Bright yellow solid 1-218 336 5.10 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-219 350 5.32 Method 5 Bright yellow solid 1-220 213 366 3.79 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-221 380 4.60 Method 4 Yellow solid 1-222 352 4.17 Method 5 Yellow solid 1-223 171 352 4.09 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-224 decomposes 368 3.67 Method 4 Yellow solid 1-225 151 382 4.08 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-226 118 430 4.80 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-227 162 380 4.79 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-228 148 400 5.19 Method 3 Bright yellow solid 1-229 148 366 3.94 Method 3 White solid 1-230 143 393 3.98 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-231 decomposes 393 3.68 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-232 391 4.77 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-233 427 5.45 Method 4 Orange solid 1-234 428 3.94 Method 3 Orange solid 1-235 151 333 3.57 Method 5 White solid 1-236 decomposes 334 3.50 Method 5 Pale yellow solid 1-237 Yellow solid 1-238 130 309 4.02 Method 1 Beige Solid 1-239 120 353 4.34 Method 1 Yellow solid 1-240 169 339 3.73 Method 1 White solid 1-241 172 338 1.94 Method 2 White solid 1-242 (oil) 325 2.54 Method 2 Black oil 1-243 166 338 2.05 Method 2 Off white solid 1-244 122 352 2.10 Method 2 White solid 1-245 135-140 414 2.62 Method 2 White solid 1-246 350 3.50 Method 3 Cream solid 1-247 217 587 5.02 Method 8 White solid 1-248 347 3.44 Method 3 White solid 1-249 350 3.68 Method 7 Yellow solid 1-250 334 3.89 Method 3 White solid 1-251 117 309 4.09 Method 3 Off white solid 1-252 120-121 311 4.24 Method 1 Beige solid 1-253 325 4.14 Method 3 White solid 1-254 122 306 2.37 Method 2 White solid 1-255 233 494 2.78 Method 2 Yellow solid 1-256 128 313 4.55 Method 1 Yellow solid 1-257 181 345 3.69 Method 1 White solid 1-258 390 4.35 Method 4 Colourless oil 1-259 323 4.62 Method 3 Pale grey solid 1-260 295 4.46 Method 4 White solid 1-261 293 4.70 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-262 338 4.75 Method 3 White solid 1-263 decomposes 338 4.83 Method 5 Creamy green solid 1-264 325 4.46 Method 3 White solid 1-265  88 325 4.52 Method 5 White solid 1-266 323 4.51 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-267 291 4.78 Method 3 Brown solid 1-268 321 4.85 Method 3 Cream solid 1-269 334 5.24 Method 3 White solid 1-270 166 334 5.24 Method 5 Orange solid 1-271 500 4.41 Method 3 White solid 1-272 401 4.78 Method 3 White solid 1-273 347 4.15 Method 7 White solid 1-274 decomposes 283 4.05 Method 3 White solid 1-275 174 297 4.10 Method 5 White solid 1-276 311 4.33 Method 5 White 1-277 365 4.65 Method 3 White solid 1-278 375 4.54 Method 3 White solid 1-279 116 381 4.69 Method 3 White solid 1-280 327 4.18 Method 5 White solid 1-281  83 341 4.21 Method 5 White solid 1-282 153 313 4.12 Method 3 White solid 1-283 345 4.08 Method 3 Pale pink solid 1-284 190 363 4.32 Method 5 White solid 1-285 200 381 4.83 Method 5 White solid 1-286 322 3.73 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 1-287 397 4.99 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 1-288 169 323 4.30 Method 3 White solid 1-289 403 5.02 Method 3 Pale yellow 1-290 148 445 5.24 Method 3 White solid 1-291 352 5.16 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 1-292 154 396 3.82 Method 3 White solid 1-293 209 372 4.43 Method 3 White solid 1-294 306 3.97 Method 3 White solid 1-295 359 3.31 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-296 151 361 3.57 Method 7 Off white solid 1-297 350 4.78 Method 7 Pale yellow solid 1-298 decomposes 282 3.97 Method 3 Cream solid 1-299 296 4.00 Method 3 Pale brown oil 1-300 decomposes 367 3.91 Method 3 White solid 1-301 decomposes 374 5.13 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-302 375 4.01 Method 3 Yellow solid 1-303 310 4.14 Method 3 White solid 1-304 322 4.51 Method 7 White solid 1-306 374 4.22 Method 7 2-001 183 437 4.95 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 2-002 127 469 5.26 Method 3 White solid 2-003 134 455 5.13 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 2-004 338 3.36 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 2-005 367 4.07 Method 3 White solid 2-006 379 4.08 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 2-007 369 3.76 Method 3 Off white solid 2-008 382 3.45 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 2-009 424 3.34 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 2-010 112 469 5.21 Method 3 White solid 2-011 351 4.40 Method 3 Yellow solid 2-012 365 4.44 Method 3 White solid 2-013 381 4.32 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 2-014 433 5.04 Method 3 White solid 2-015 decomposes 401 4.66 Method 3 Beige solid 2-016 409 4.33 Method 3 White solid 2-017 379 4.55 Method 3 Pale brown solid 2-018 391 4.75 Method 3 Pale yellow oil 2-019 413 4.49 Method 3 Yellow gum 2-020 463 5.05 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 2-021 379 4.99 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 2-022 256 483 5.49 Method 3 White solid 2-023 366 3.32 Method 3 Yellow gum 2-024 352 3.83 Method 3 Yellow solid 2-025 366 4.17 Method 3 Yellow solid 2-026 135 420 4.69 Method 3 White solid 2-027 377 3.72 Method 3 Off white solid 2-028 353 3.56 Method 3 Pale creamy solid 2-029 155 421 4.71 Method 3 Pale brown solid 2-030 353 2.80 Method 3 Yellow solid 2-031 245 387 3.38 Method 3 Yellow solid 2-032 383 3.40 Method 3 Yellow solid 2-033 429 4.23 Method 3 Yellow gum 2-034 decomposes 417 3.89 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 2-035 288 392 4.15 Method 3 White solid 2-036 159 396 3.67 Method 3 Off white solid 2-037 223 White solid 2-038 140 435 4.73 Method 3 White solid 2-039 125 467 5.05 Method 3 White solid 2-040 157 Pale yellow solid 2-041 decomposes 365 3.38 Method 3 Pale brown solid 2-042 decomposes 469 4.91 Method 3 White solid 2-043 110 483 4.97 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 2-044 156 487 4.93 Method 4 White solid 2-045 decomposes 519 5.47 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 2-046  92 497 3.96 Method 8 Yellow solid 2-047 470 3.94 Method 3 Yellow solid 2-048 258 524 5.04 Method 3 White solid 2-049 403 4.27 Method 4 Light brown solid 2-050 421 4.39 Method 3 White solid 2-051 239 439 4.49 Method 3 White solid 2-052 439 4.59 Method 3 White solid 2-053 415 4.48 Method 3 White solid 2-054 429 4.42 Method 3 Yellow oil 2-055 390 3.59 Method 3 White solid 3-001 124 338 3.57 Method 7 Pale yellow solid 3-002 White solid 3-003 125 379 4.41 Method 3 White solid 3-004 188 434 4.90 Method 3 Off white solid 3-005 393 4.47 Method 3 White solid 3-006 131 461 5.22 Method 3 White solid 3-007 208 380 4.35 Method 3 White solid 3-008 448 5.10 Method 3 Pale brown solid 3-009 117 462 5.20 Method 3 Off white solid 3-010 187 White solid 3-011 decomposes 351 2.55 Method 3 White solid 3-012 432 4.60 Method 3 Cream solid 3-013 211 497 4.95 Method 3 White solid 3-014 432 5.35 Method 3 White solid 4-001 337 3.28 Method 3 White solid 4-002 337 3.22 Method 7 White solid 4-003 132 351 3.33 Method 7 4-004 188 353 3.20 Method 3 Cream solid 4-005 353 3.87 Method 3 Cream solid 4-006 367 3.94 Method 7 White solid 4-007 367 3.51 Method 7 Pale yellow solid 4-008 381 3.79 Method 7 White solid 4-009 377 3.91 Method 7 White solid 4-010 342 4.19 Method 3 White solid 4-012 296 378 4.48 Method 3 White solid 4-013 350 5.06 Method 3 White solid 4-014 decomposes 350 4.76 Method 3 White solid 4-015 364 5.33 Method 3 Yellow oil 4-016 112 418 5.09 Method 7 White solid 4-017 380 5.18 Method 3 White solid 4-018 384 4.94 Method 3 White solid 4-019 100 412 5.18 Method 3 White solid 4-020 448 5.43 Method 3 White gummy solid 4-021 decomposes 410 4.82 Method 3 White solid 4-022 464 5.30 Method 3 White solid 4-023 365 4.43 Method 3 Beige solid 4-025 283 447 4.63 Method 3 White solid 4-026 393 4.41 Method 3 Brown solid 4-027 113 411 4.57 Method 3 White solid 4-028 461 5.25 Method 3 White solid 4-029  91 461 5.28 Method 3 White solid 4-030 425 5.09 Method 3 White foam 4-031 141 447 5.31 Method 3 White solid 4-032 475 5.02 Method 3 4-033 475 5.03 Method 3 Yellow solid 4-034 253 405 4.4 Method 3 Pale brown solid 4-035 389 4.93 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 4-036 405 5.29 Method 3 Browm gummy oil 4-037  78 407 4.86 Method 3 Yellow solid 4-038 214 391 4.35 Method 3 Beige solid 4-039 123 408 5.09 Method 3 White solid 4-040 113 412 4.91 Method 3 Pale cream solid 4-041 418 4.82 Method 3 Pale brown solid 4-042 decomposes 433 4.13 Method 7 Yellow solid 4-043 138 379 4.64 Method 3 White solid 4-044 435 4.53 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 4-045 380 4.93 Method 3 White solid 4-046 282 414 3.73 Method 3 White solid 4-047 128 334 4.05 Method 7 White solid 4-048 378 4.38 Method 7 Off white solid 4-049 138 497 4.89 Method 3 White solid 4-050 decomposes 491 4.20 Method 3 White solid 4-051 decomposes 509 4.88 Method 3 Pale brown solid 4-052 499 4.39 Method 7 Pale brown solid 4-053 485 3.85 Method 7 Yellow solid 4-054 Cream solid 4-055 155 435 3.85 Method 3 Cream solid 4-056 431 4.16 Method 3 Cream solid 4-057 242 449 4.54 Method 3 Cream solid 4-058 499 5.05 Method 3 White solid 4-059 157 475 5.27 Method 3 White solid 4-060  96 Off white solid 4-061 175 447 4.20 Method 3 Cream solid 4-062 139 454 5.06 Method 3 White solid 4-063 471 3.56 Method 7 Off white solid 4-064 159 443 4.43 Method 3 White solid 4-065 511 5.24 Method 3 White solid 4-066 400 4.83 Method 3 White solid 5-001 decomposes 384 3.31 Method 3 Off white solid 5-002   164.7 398 3.24 Method 3 White solid 5-003 decomposes 322 4.33 Method 3 White solid 5-004 377 4.2 Method 3 Pale cream gum 5-005  96 447 5.16 Method 3 White solid 5-006 100 397 4.71 Method 3 White solid 5-007 350 4.75 Method 3 Colourless oil 5-008 102 436 5.11 Method 3 White solid 5-009 473 4.97 Method 3 White solid 5-010 118 298 2.37 Method 2 White solid 5-011 326 2.96 Method 3 Pale brown solid 5-012 257 2.72 Method 3 White solid 5-013 347 4.26 Method 3 White solid 5-014 308 3.92 Method 5 Orange solid 5-015 350 3.75 Method 5 Pale yellow solid 5-016 decomposes 306 3.93 Method 3 Pale brown solid 5-017 decomposes 306 3.84 Method 3 Pale green solid 5-018 281 320 4.37 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 5-019 382 5.31 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 5-020 232 397 4.21 Method 3 Cream solid 5-021 decomposes 307 3.31 Method 3 Syrup 5-022 307 2.93 Method 3 Beige solid 5-023 decomposes 384 3.51 Method 3 Cream solid 5-024 284 398 3.53 Method 3 Cream solid 5-025 398 3.72 Method 3 Cream solid 5-026 decomposes 338 4.43 Method 5 Bright yellow solid 5-027 decomposes 347 4.08 Method 7 White solid 5-028 364 4.87 Method 3 White solid 5-029 234 307 3.89 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 5-030 324 4.4 Method 3 Cream solid 5-031 134 322 4.72 Method 3 Yellow solid 5-032 382 4.04 Method 3 White solid 5-033 376 5.35 Method 3 White solid 5-034 421 4.44 Method 3 Pale cream solid 5-035 169 406 5.04 Method 3 White solid 5-036 394 4.96 Method 3 White solid 5-037 217 380 4.57 Method 3 Cream solid 5-038 141 Cream solid 5-039 276 361 4.52 Method 3 White solid 5-040 111 393 4.87 Method 3 Cream solid 5-041 130 362 4.85 Method 3 White solid 5-042 412 5.73 Method 3 Pale yellow 5-043 decomposes 365 4.57 Method 3 Pale yellow solid 5-044 395 4.51 Method 3 Brown gummy solid 5-045 378 4.06 Method 3 White solid 5-046 370 4.08 Method 4 White solid 5-047 349 4.37 Method 3 White solid 5-048 441 5.22 Method 3 Colourless oil 5-049 318 4.39 Method 3 Pale grey solid 5-050 407 3.66 Method 3 White solid 5-051 166 410 2.63 Method 2 Grey solid 6-001 175 341 5.54 Method 2 Beige solid decomposes = product decomposes in the course of the determination.

D. Pharmacological Examples

The compounds provided in the present invention are positive allosteric modulators of mGluR2. These compounds appear to potentiate glutamate responses by binding to an allosteric site other than the glutamate binding site. The response of mGluR2 to a concentration of glutamate is increased when compounds of Formula (I) are present. Compounds of Formula (I) are expected to have their effect substantially at mGluR2 by virtue of their ability to enhance the function of the receptor. The behaviour of positive allosteric modulators tested at mGluR2 using the [³⁵S]GTPγS binding assay method described below and which is suitable for the identification of such compounds, and more particularly the compounds according to Formula (I), are shown in Table 4.

[³⁵S]GTPγS Binding Assay

The [³⁵S]GTPγS binding is a functional membrane-based assay used to study G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) function whereby incorporation of a non-hydrolysable form of GTP, [³⁵S]GTPγS (guanosine 5′-triphosphate, labelled with gamma-emitting ³⁵S), is measured. The G-protein α subunit catalyzes the exchange of guanosine 5′-diphosphate (GDP) by guanosine triphosphate (GTP) and on activation of the GPCR by an agonist, [³⁵S]GTPγS, becomes incorporated and cannot be cleaved to continue the exchange cycle (Harper (1998) Current Protocols in Pharmacology 2.6.1-10, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). The amount of radioactive [³⁵S]GTPγS incorporation is a direct measure of the activity of the G-protein and hence the activity of the agonist can be determined. mGluR2 receptors are shown to be preferentially coupled to Gαi-protein, a preferential coupling for this method, and hence it is widely used to study receptor activation of mGluR2 receptors both in recombinant cell lines and in tissues (Schaffhauser et al 2003, Pinkerton et al, 2004, Mutel et al (1998) Journal of Neurochemistry. 71:2558-64; Schaffhauser et al (1998) Molecular Pharmacology 53:228-33). Here we describe the use of the [³⁵S]GTPγS binding assay using membranes from cells transfected with the human mGluR2 receptor and adapted from Schaffhauser et al ((2003) Molecular Pharmacology 4:798-810) for the detection of the positive allosteric modulation (PAM) properties of the compounds of this invention.

Membrane Preparation

CHO-cells were cultured to pre-confluence and stimulated with 5 mM butyrate for 24 hours, prior to washing in PBS, and then collection by scraping in homogenisation buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.4, 4° C.). Cell lysates were homogenized briefly (15 s) using an ultra-turrax homogenizer. The homogenate was centrifuged at 23 500×g for 10 minutes and the supernatant discarded. The pellet was resuspended in 5 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4 and centrifuged again (30 000×g, 20 min, 4° C.). The final pellet was resuspended in 50 mM HEPES, pH 7.4 and stored at −80° C. in appropriate aliquots before use. Protein concentration was determined by the Bradford method (Bio-Rad, USA) with bovine serum albumin as standard.

[³⁵S]GTPγS Binding Assay

Measurement of mGluR2 positive allosteric modulators in membranes containing human mGluR2 was performed using frozen membranes that were thawed and briefly homogenised prior to pre-incubation in 96-well microplates (15 μg/assay well, 30 minutes, 30° C.) in assay buffer (50 mM HEPES pH 7.4, 100 mM NaCl, 3 mM MgCl₂, 50 μM GDP, 10 μg/ml saponin), with increasing concentrations of positive allosteric modulator (from 0.3 nM to 50 μM) and either a minimal pre-determined concentration of glutamate (PAM assay), or no added glutamate. For the PAM assay, membranes were pre-incubated with glutamate at EC₂₅ concentration, i.e. a concentration that gives 25% of the maximal response glutamate, and is in accordance to published data (Pin et al. (1999) Eur. J. Pharmacol. 375:277-294). After addition of [³⁵S]GTPγS (0.1 nM, f.c.) to achieve a total reaction volume of 200 μl, microplates were shaken briefly and further incubated to allow [³⁵S]GTPγS incorporation on activation (30 minutes, 30° C.). The reaction was stopped by rapid vacuum filtration over glass-fibre filter plates (Unifilter 96-well GF/B filter plates, Perkin-Elmer, Downers Grove, USA) microplate using a 96-well plate cell harvester (Filtermate, Perkin-Elmer, USA), and then by washing three times with 300 μl of ice-cold wash buffer (Na₂PO₄.2H₂O 10 mM, NaH₂PO₄.H₂O 10 mM, pH=7.4). Filters were then air-dried, and 40 μl of liquid scintillation cocktail (Microscint-O) was added to each well, and membrane-bound [³⁵S]GTPγS was measured in a 96-well scintillation plate reader (Top-Count, Perkin-Elmer, USA). Non-specific [³⁵S]GTPγS binding is determined in the presence of cold 10 μM GTP. Each curve was performed at least once using duplicate sample per data point and at 11 concentrations.

Data Analysis

The concentration-response curves of representative compounds of the present invention in the presence of added EC₂₅ of mGluR2 agonist glutamate to determine positive allosteric modulation (PAM), were generated using the Prism GraphPad software (Graph Pad Inc, San Diego, USA). The curves were fitted to a four-parameter logistic equation (Y=Bottom+(Top−Bottom)/(1+10^((LogEC₅₀−X)*Hill Slope) allowing determination of EC₅₀ values.

TABLE 8 Pharmacological data for compounds according to the invention. All compounds were tested in presence of mGluR2 agonist, glutamate at a predetermined EC₂₅ concentration, to determine positive allosteric modulation (GTPγS-PAM). Values shown are averages of duplicate values of 11-concentration response curves, from at least one experiment. All compounds showed a pEC₅₀ value of more than 5.0, from 5.1 (weak activity) to 7.6 (very high activity). The error of determination of a pEC₅₀ value for a single experiment is estimated to be about 0.3 log-units. GTPgS- hR2 PAM Co. Nr. pEC₅₀ 1-093 7.6 5-020 7.6 1-204 7.6 1-202 7.5 4-065 7.5 4-066 7.5 1-140 7.4 1-196 7.4 5-033 7.4 4-062 7.4 4-039 7.4 1-151 7.4 1-145 7.4 1-268 7.3 4-016 7.3 1-188 7.3 1-124 7.3 5-041 7.3 1-153 7.3 1-149 7.3 5-019 7.3 4-022 7.3 1-148 7.3 1-206 7.3 4-060 7.3 1-194 7.2 1-141 7.2 1-117 7.2 4-014 7.2 1-287 7.2 1-086 7.2 1-092 7.2 1-144 7.2 1-146 7.2 1-199 7.2 4-031 7.2 1-267 7.1 1-289 7.1 5-039 7.1 1-134 7.1 2-048 7.1 4-019 7.1 1-147 7.1 1-228 7.1 1-143 7.1 1-200 7.1 1-165 7.1 1-163 7.1 1-150 7.1 1-010 7.0 1-270 7.0 1-014 7.0 1-115 7.0 4-015 7.0 4-035 7.0 4-028 7.0 1-152 7.0 1-025 7.0 1-172 6.9 1-285 6.9 1-187 6.9 1-024 6.9 1-013 6.9 1-195 6.9 1-272 6.9 4-020 6.9 4-045 6.9 4-017 6.9 4-037 6.9 5-018 6.9 4-041 6.9 1-226 6.9 1-049 6.9 4-064 6.9 4-029 6.9 1-256 6.8 1-290 6.8 1-269 6.8 1-042 6.8 1-039 6.8 1-123 6.8 1-164 6.8 3-009 6.8 2-022 6.8 1-271 6.8 2-003 6.8 1-004 6.8 2-006 6.8 1-067 6.8 1-083 6.7 1-218 6.7 5-026 6.7 1-219 6.7 1-133 6.7 3-014 6.7 2-026 6.7 1-301 6.7 1-259 6.7 1-040 6.7 5-042 6.7 1-261 6.7 5-038 6.7 4-021 6.7 4-049 6.7 5-048 6.7 2-017 6.7 1-297 6.7 1-008 6.6 5-016 6.6 5-003 6.6 1-277 6.6 5-051 6.6 1-041 6.6 1-205 6.6 5-036 6.6 5-008 6.6 4-036 6.6 2-029 6.6 1-183 6.6 2-043 6.6 4-058 6.6 1-197 6.6 4-059 6.6 3-004 6.6 1-068 6.6 1-258 6.5 1-112 6.5 1-180 6.5 1-266 6.5 5-028 6.5 1-142 6.5 1-030 6.5 1-278 6.5 5-027 6.5 1-111 6.5 5-040 6.5 1-203 6.5 1-022 6.5 3-008 6.5 2-002 6.5 4-047 6.5 1-006 6.5 1-058 6.5 1-191 6.5 4-032 6.4 1-012 6.4 1-157 6.4 1-007 6.4 1-279 6.4 1-105 6.4 4-012 6.4 4-038 6.4 5-037 6.4 1-237 6.4 4-040 6.4 1-221 6.4 1-162 6.4 4-033 6.4 5-025 6.4 5-034 6.4 1-190 6.4 1-247 6.4 1-005 6.4 1-073 6.4 1-064 6.4 1-120 6.3 2-011 6.3 1-026 6.3 1-027 6.3 1-158 6.3 1-159 6.3 1-192 6.3 1-253 6.3 1-167 6.3 5-013 6.3 1-171 6.3 1-291 6.3 1-094 6.3 1-230 6.3 4-018 6.3 1-121 6.3 1-156 6.3 1-154 6.3 4-043 6.3 5-047 6.3 1-227 6.3 4-051 6.3 1-169 6.3 2-040 6.3 1-066 6.3 2-045 6.3 4-005 6.3 4-006 6.3 4-009 6.3 1-155 6.3 1-095 6.2 1-113 6.2 1-021 6.2 1-136 6.2 1-284 6.2 1-126 6.2 1-119 6.2 1-106 6.2 1-160 6.2 1-233 6.2 2-042 6.2 1-116 6.2 2-053 6.2 1-211 6.2 2-016 6.2 1-161 6.2 1-003 6.2 1-036 6.2 2-005 6.2 1-057 6.2 1-273 6.2 1-071 6.2 4-052 6.2 1-070 6.2 1-019 6.1 1-239 6.1 1-214 6.1 1-085 6.1 1-170 6.1 5-017 6.1 1-282 6.1 1-283 6.1 2-028 6.1 2-013 6.1 1-138 6.1 2-025 6.1 1-255 6.1 1-032 6.1 1-245 6.1 1-090 6.1 1-186 6.1 1-038 6.1 2-020 6.1 2-014 6.1 1-035 6.1 2-039 6.1 5-023 6.1 1-114 6.0 1-210 6.0 1-017 6.0 1-263 6.0 1-135 6.0 1-137 6.0 1-099 6.0 2-035 6.0 5-043 6.0 1-122 6.0 1-288 6.0 5-044 6.0 4-042 6.0 1-185 6.0 1-212 6.0 4-057 6.0 1-048 6.0 2-037 6.0 2-010 6.0 1-060 6.0 2-007 6.0 1-063 6.0 5-001 6.0 1-065 6.0 1-046 5.9 1-260 5.9 1-251 5.9 1-275 5.9 1-265 5.9 5-032 5.9 1-208 5.9 1-209 5.9 1-055 5.9 1-234 5.9 1-220 5.9 1-224 5.9 2-015 5.9 2-021 5.9 1-198 5.9 5-007 5.9 4-027 5.9 4-030 5.9 1-292 5.9 1-302 5.9 3-002 5.9 3-012 5.9 1-034 5.9 1-102 5.8 1-097 5.8 1-096 5.8 1-009 5.8 1-274 5.8 1-174 5.8 1-280 5.8 5-015 5.8 1-250 5.8 1-166 5.8 1-264 5.8 1-262 5.8 5-049 5.8 1-091 5.8 5-035 5.8 4-026 5.8 5-021 5.8 2-049 5.8 2-044 5.8 4-061 5.8 1-189 5.8 3-010 5.8 1-231 5.8 2-008 5.8 4-007 5.8 1-072 5.8 4-008 5.8 1-296 5.8 1-082 5.7 1-052 5.7 1-103 5.7 1-223 5.7 1-011 5.7 1-118 5.7 1-104 5.7 5-014 5.7 1-016 5.7 1-236 5.7 2-024 5.7 4-010 5.7 2-033 5.7 1-300 5.7 1-304 5.7 4-013 5.7 1-132 5.7 1-225 5.7 1-037 5.7 5-005 5.7 5-009 5.7 2-004 5.7 4-001 5.7 4-048 5.7 1-018 5.6 1-110 5.6 1-047 5.6 1-088 5.6 1-276 5.6 1-254 5.6 2-018 5.6 1-031 5.6 1-033 5.6 1-131 5.6 4-044 5.6 3-006 5.6 2-050 5.6 5-024 5.6 1-293 5.6 1-056 5.6 1-069 5.6 1-217 5.6 1-179 5.5 1-101 5.5 1-215 5.5 1-238 5.5 1-128 5.5 1-182 5.5 1-089 5.5 1-303 5.5 1-248 5.5 1-107 5.5 4-034 5.5 2-051 5.5 2-001 5.5 2-046 5.5 1-294 5.5 2-041 5.5 4-004 5.5 4-053 5.5 1-077 5.4 1-015 5.4 1-087 5.4 1-298 5.4 1-201 5.4 1-246 5.4 1-184 5.4 1-286 5.4 2-034 5.4 1-249 5.4 1-139 5.4 1-177 5.4 1-242 5.4 2-055 5.4 1-306 5.4 5-045 5.4 5-006 5.4 3-013 5.4 2-052 5.4 1-295 5.4 1-078 5.4 4-002 5.4 1-076 5.4 4-003 5.4 1-079 5.3 1-059 5.3 1-176 5.3 1-053 5.3 5-004 5.3 1-125 5.3 1-109 5.3 1-193 5.3 4-023 5.3 2-047 5.3 2-054 5.3 4-056 5.3 2-038 5.3 1-074 5.3 1-075 5.3 4-063 5.3 1-081 5.2 1-252 5.2 1-168 5.2 1-108 5.2 5-011 5.2 2-019 5.2 1-173 5.2 5-030 5.2 5-031 5.2 1-244 5.2 4-024 5.2 3-007 5.2 2-027 5.2 1-061 5.2 2-009 5.2 5-002 5.2 1-062 5.2 1-084 5.1 1-050 5.1 5-010 5.1 1-127 5.1 1-098 5.1 1-181 5.1 1-281 5.1 1-222 5.1 1-235 5.1 5-029 5.1 1-129 5.1 1-229 5.1 1-213 5.1 3-011 5.1

E. Composition Examples

“Active ingredient” (a.i.) as used throughout these examples relates to a final compound of formula (I), the pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salts thereof, the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, the N-oxide form thereof, a quaternary ammonium salt thereof and prodrugs thereof.

Typical examples of recipes for the formulation of the invention are as follows:

1. Tablets

Active ingredient 5 to 50 mg Di-calcium phosphate 20 mg Lactose 30 mg Talcum 10 mg Magnesium stearate 5 mg Potato starch ad 200 mg

In this Example, active ingredient can be replaced with the same amount of any of the compounds according to the present invention, in particular by the same amount of any of the exemplified compounds.

2. Suspension

An aqueous suspension is prepared for oral administration so that each 1 milliliter contains 1 to 5 mg of one of the active compounds, 50 mg of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, 1 mg of sodium benzoate, 500 mg of sorbitol and water ad 1 ml.

3. Injectable

A parenteral composition is prepared by stirring 1.5% by weight of active ingredient of the invention in 10% by volume propylene glycol and water.

4. Ointment

Active ingredient 5 to 1000 mg Stearyl alcohol 3 g Lanoline 5 g White petroleum 15 g Water ad 100 g

In this Example, active ingredient can be replaced with the same amount of any of the compounds according to the present invention, in particular by the same amount of any of the exemplified compounds.

Reasonable variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the scope of the invention. It will be obvious that the thus described invention may be varied in many ways by those skilled in the art. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A compound according to the general Formula (I),

a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt thereof, or a stereochemically isomeric form thereof, wherein V¹ is selected from the group consisting of an unsubstituted bivalent saturated, straight or branched hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; M¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen; cycloC₃₋₇alkyl; phenyl optionally substituted with OCF₃ or F; phenyloxy-; and tetrahydropyranyl; L is selected from the group consisting of a covalent bond; —O—; —OCH₂—; NR⁷—; wherein R⁷, is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and unsubstituted C₁₋₃alkyl; R² and R³ are hydrogen; A is piperidinyl selected from the group consisting of

wherein n is an integer equal to 0, 1, or 2; R⁴ is, when present, at any of b, or c positions and is selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₆-alkyl; C₁₋₆-alkyloxy; C₁₋₆-alkyloxycarbonyl-; polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyl-; Het³; Het³-C₁₋₆-alkyl-; Het³-oxy-; Het³-oxy-C₁₋₆-alkyl-; Het³-C₁₋₆-alkyloxy; —NR^(a)R^(b); C₁₋₆-alkyl-NR^(a)R^(b); wherein R^(a) and R^(b) are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁₋₆-alkyl, and C₃₋₇-cycloalkyl; and Het³ is selected from the group consisting of pyridinyl; pyrimidinyl; pyridazinyl; pyrrolyl; indolyl; morpholinyl; oxadiazolyl; benzoxazolyl; benzofuranyl; indolinyl; 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolinyl; phthalazinyl; and benzo[1,3]dioxolyl wherein each radical is optionally substituted with 1 or 2 substituents, each independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₃₋₇-cycloalkyl, polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyl, cyano, mono(C₁₋₆alkyl)amino, oxo, phenyl, morpholinyl, and C₁₋₃alkyloxy.
 2. The compound according to claim 1, wherein V¹ is selected from the group consisting of CH₂—; —CH₂—CH₂—; —CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—; —CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—; —CH₂—CH(CH₃)—CH₂—; —CH(CH₃)—CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—; —CH₂—CH(CH₃)—CH₂—CH₂—; and —CH₂—CH₂—CH(CH₃)—CH₂—.
 3. The compound according to claim 1, wherein V¹-M¹ is selected from the group consisting of —CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—CH₃; —CH₂—CH(CH₃)—CH₃; —CH(CH₃)—CH₂—CH₂—CH₃; —CH₂—CH(CH₃—)CH₂—CH₃; —CH₂—CH₂—CH(CH₃)—CH₃; or V¹ is selected from the group consisting of —CH₂—; —CH₂—CH₂—; and —CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—; and M¹ is selected from the group of cyclopropyl; cyclopentyl; cyclohexyl; phenyl; and phenyloxy.
 4. The compound according to claim 1, wherein: V¹ is selected from the group consisting of a —CH₂—; —CH₂—CH₂—; —CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—; —CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—; —CH₂—CH(CH₃)CH₂—; —CH(CH₃)—CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—; —CH₂—CH(CH₃)CH₂—CH₂—; and —CH₂—CH₂—CH(CH₃)—CH₂—; M¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen; cycloC₃₋₇alkyl; phenyl; and phenyloxy; and Het³ is selected from the group consisting of pyridinyl; pyrimidinyl; pyridazinyl; morpholinyl; oxadiazolyl; benzoxazolyl; 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolinyl; indolyl; indolinyl; phthalazinyl; and benzo[1,3]dioxolyl; wherein each radical is optionally substituted with 1 or 2 substituents, each independently selected from the group consisting of halo, oxo, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyl, cyano, phenyl, morpholinyl, C₁₋₃alkyloxy; and mono(alkyl)amino.
 5. The compound according to claim 1, wherein the compound exists as optical isomers, wherein said compound is either the racemic mixture or the individual optical isomer.
 6. The compound as claimed in claim 1 wherein Het³ is selected from the group consisting of pyridinyl; pyrimidinyl; morpholinyl; oxadiazolyl; benzofuranyl; indolinyl; 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolinyl; wherein each radical is optionally substituted with 1 or 2 substituents, each independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C₁₋₆alkyl, polyhaloC₁₋₃alkyl, oxo, and phenyl.
 7. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or excipient. 